The UK in Cameroon, represented by H.E. Barry Lowen, has taken a proactive step to tackle the challenges posed by fake news and disinformation. They recently organized a highly informative workshop in Bastos, Yaoundé at their residence on March 22. This brought together various participants, including representatives from the fact-checking organizations, Cameroon Check and #defyhatenow. Representatives from the organizations and other stakeholders played a key functions during the workshop.

The UK in Cameroon’s Initiative to Combat Fake News

The workshop organized by UK in Cameroon demonstrated their unwavering commitment to combat the issue of fake news and disinformation. They acknowledged the harmful impact of misinformation on society and aimed to equip the participants with effective tools to identify and address it. The workshop provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborate on strategies to counter the spread of fake news.

Cameroon Check’s Role and Contributions

Cameroon Check, one of the leading fact-checking organization in Cameroon, played a vital role in the workshop. Their expertise and activities significantly enriched the discussions, as the CEO and founder prof Che Tita J. was the moderator for both panel discussions. The panel discussions provided valuable perspectives on the challenges of combating fake news in the local context. The contributions from participants as well were highly regarded and acknowledged.

Empowering Participants with Fact-Checking Skills

Participants benefited immensely from the expertise of Ngufack Ntemgwa the public relations officer/fact checker with Cameroon Check. She imparted practical knowledge and tools related to fact-checking. She focused on 3 tools; whopostedwhat, whois and InVid. These tools are used to monitor conversations on social media, verify website domains/meta data and finally video/image verification on and offline. By emphasizing these skills, participants gained the ability to discern between accurate and misleading content, enabling them to combat fake news more effectively.

Collaboration and Networking Opportunities

The workshop facilitated collaboration and networking opportunities among participants, including representatives from Cameroon Check and other stakeholders. The event provided a platform for fruitful discussions, idea exchange. Participants had the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and build connections to strengthen the collective effort against fake news in Cameroon. Not withstanding, Carl Miller shared the UK perspective on fake news.

The workshop organized by the UK in Cameroon showcased their proactive approach in addressing the challenges posed by fake news and disinformation. Cameroon Check played a pivotal role in enriching the discussions and knowledge sharing during the workshop. The event empowered participants with fact-checking skills, promoted collaboration, and provided networking opportunities. The UK in Cameroon’s commitment to combatting fake news was evident through this initiative, and Cameroon Check’s active participation highlighted their expertise and dedication in the fight against misinformation in Cameroon.