The Gambia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, has emphasized the urgent need for collective action to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation facilitated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology. Speaking at the Ministerial Conference held before the Third Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, Minister Tangara highlighted the grave threat these phenomena pose to democracy, especially in developing nations.

Minister Tangara acknowledged the transformative potential of AI in promoting human rights and democratic participation but warned of the risks posed by malicious actors using sophisticated platforms to spread harmful information. He stressed the importance of collaboration between developed and developing countries to address these threats effectively.

The Gambia’s Foreign Minister called for cooperation in key areas such as building strong public AI digital infrastructure, enhancing oversight mechanisms, and providing capacity-building training to counter AI threats. He also emphasized the need for sharing data to deter threats and build synergies between states and institutions on the AI value chain.

Minister Tangara highlighted the damaging effects of misinformation on public perception of democratic institutions and called for strengthened common positions within the African Union to address challenges posed by new technologies. He commended the efforts of member countries in promoting cooperation and collaboration to protect democratic processes.

During the conference, Minister Tangara expressed gratitude to Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul of the Republic of Korea for his support for democracy in The Gambia. He also praised the growth in bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and South Korea, affirming both countries’ commitment to further strengthening their ties.

The Ministerial Conference, chaired by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, was attended by dignitaries including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken of the United States, Foreign Minister Maria Sommerfeid of Ecuador, Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd of Guyana, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia, Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko of Japan, and Vice President Vera Jourova of the European Commission. Minister Tangara also held a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart to discuss further cooperation between the two countries.