The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has formed a 29-member task force with representatives from various sectors including media, technology, academia, and legal practice to draft comprehensive guidelines for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary journalism.
This task force’s primary responsibilities include assessing the advantages and risks associated with new technologies, proposing ethical considerations to enhance journalism quality, and providing recommendations for responsibly utilizing data in journalism.
Additionally, the team will develop strategies for eliminating harmful content from the media landscape.
David Omwoyo, the CEO of MCK, highlighted the media industry’s increasing reliance on AI for audience engagement and feedback, emphasizing the need for accurate reporting on data and AI, given their significant impact on the daily lives of Kenyans.
At the conclusion of their three-month term, the task force will produce three essential documents: “A Journalists’ Handbook for Reporting AI and Data,” “Media Guidelines on the Use of AI and Data,” and “Ethical Guidelines on the use of Social Media and the Internet by Journalists and Media Houses.”
Notable individuals in the task force include Oliver Mathenge, the Audience and Engagement Managing Editor at Nation Media Group, and John Walubengo, an ICT lecturer at the Multimedia University of Kenya.
The team comprises professionals such as Sarah Mumbua Nzuki, Michael Michie, Susan Mute, Ellen Wanjiru, Carole Kimutai, Silas Kiragu, Margaret Kalekye, Michael Oriedo, Dr. Gilbert Mugeni, Rosemary Mwangi, Demus Kiprono, Ken Bosire, Alexander Masiga, and Jeremiah Wakaya.
George Mwamodo, Francis Mureithi, Alex Mwangi, Joel Karanja, Oscar Otieno, Paul Kaindo, Anhosi K’Obonyo, Jared Kidambi, Lilian Kimeto, Anthony Laibuta, Kenneth Kibet, Fridah Naliaka, and Eric Munene are also part of this task force.
This development aligns with the renewed efforts of the Data Protection Commissioner, Immaculate Kassait, to enforce data protection rules passed by Parliament in 2021. Recently, her office imposed significant fines on three entities for breaching personal data protection regulations, including a digital credit provider, an entertainment establishment, and an educational institution.
