The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has cautioned Nigerians against falling for the Artificial Intelligence (AI)- AI-generated images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in an advertisement on Facebook.
In a statement made available to The Industry, and signed by the Director General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, “This is to inform the general public to beware of a fake AI-generated advertisement using the image and video of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in soliciting for investment in a Ponzi scheme. A preliminary investigation shows that the advertisement is computer/AI-generated with the intention to mislead and defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.”
According to the DG, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not model for, or authorize anyone to use his image in promoting any investment scheme.
The advertisement was neither submitted for vetting nor vetted and approved for exposure by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) in line with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022,” he added.
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Fadolapo stated that the purpose of the Federal Government’s policy of pre-exposure vetting is to ensure all advertisements are decent, truthful, legal, socially responsible, and devoid of misinformation, disinformation, and unsubstantiated claims.
“This is to remind all media owners (traditional, new media, primary digital media space owners, and secondary digital media space owners) that, as gatekeepers of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications in Nigeria, they are required by law to demand for, and obtain a vetting Certificate of Approval before the exposure of any advertisement targeted at the Nigerian market.
The violation of the requisite provisions of Act No. 23 of 2022 will attract sanctions in accordance with the law.
“As we continue to work towards building a more ethical and consumer-protective advertising environment in Nigeria, we call on all stakeholders and the advertising community to recommit to the principles of truthful, legal, decent, and responsible advertising in Nigeria,” he added.
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