Ai Poses As An Unprecedented Threat To Press Freedom

This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO commemorates World Press Freedom Day under the theme "Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media, putting focus on the overwhelming influence of artificial intelligence AI on journalism and media.

As part of the commemoration, warnings have been raised about the weakening state of journalism not only in South Africa but across the globe and what its decline could mean for press freedom and democracy.

Associate Professor Sisanda Nkoala from the University of the Western Cape says the countrys media industry is facing unprecedented challenges due to evolving technologies.

"Sadly, in what we see in practice that is not always the case, media freedom is threatened through political actors, through business actors, even though how communities treat journalists. And you know, we may not see it immediately, but in the long run, our democracy is at risk if we dont have good journalism that serves the public.

She adds that the rapid rise digital platforms and artificial intelligence AI have worsened the challenges by depleting revenue and contaminating information networks.