WhatsApp Faces Misinformation Problem in Nigeria, Reports Say (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on Sunday December 2, 2018 @04:20PM from the growing-tension dept.

Fake news is being spread on WhatsApp in some of Africa's most populous countries, according to two new reports, raising concerns over coming elections in Nigeria. From a report: Photoshopped images and false claims about politicians have been circulating on the Facebook-owned messaging service in Nigeria, which holds election in February next year, according to a report from The Poynter Institute on Friday. Many of the false claims are in local languages and exploit ethnic friction. One set of false claims focuses on how politicians will address clashes between a group of semi-nomadic herdsmen and farmers, Poynter said. Another rumor claimed a presidential candidate couldn't enter the US because of a corruption charge, Poynter reported.

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Re:Where's my sarcastic face? by quenda · 2018-12-02 16:57 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm sure fake news never happened before the Internet was widely available. I can't find my sarcastic face. Maybe (/s|s\)
In 2010, I hear there were faxes and drums circulating around the country that Goodluck Jonathan (real name) was actually born in the Unites States, not Bayelsa.
(Nigeria is one of the few countries where a president has to be a citizen by birth.)