Government Launches National AI, Deepfake Awareness Campaign to Curb Digital Manipulation
Sahid Bangura The Government of Sierra Leone has launched a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deepfake Awareness Campaign to equip citizens with practical knowledge to identify manipulated content and promote the responsible use of emerging technologies.
The campaign was officially launched on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, under the leadership of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).
The initiative is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), as the Government seeks to raise public awareness about the growing impact of AI-generated and digitally manipulated content.
The campaign will focus on helping citizens recognise deepfakes and other forms of manipulated media, while encouraging responsible engagement with AI technologies. It is also intended to strengthen public awareness of the risks associated with misleading digital content.
The initiative is financed through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP), with the World Bank serving as a financing partner.
The launch marks part of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to strengthen digital literacy and prepare citizens to navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technologies.
