News Digital

Namibia Moves to Curb Deepfake and Scam Risks with National AI Awareness Campaign

Namibia Moves to Curb Deepfake and Scam Risks with National AI Awareness Campaign
Tuesday, 11 November 2025 19:21
  • Namibia to launch national campaign on AI, digital and media literacy
  • Govt cites rise in scams, deepfakes, and disinformation as key threats
  • AI framework in development to guide ethics, transparency, and data protection

Amid the rise of digital applications and growing risks from disinformation, the Namibian government says it is urgent to educate the public. The goal is to help citizens better understand how to use and recognize the limits of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). Namibia’s Information and Communication Technology Minister, Emma Theofelus, delivered the message during the opening of the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, South Africa.

We see AI being adopted in education, academia, journalism, and social media. But this must go hand in hand with improving digital and media literacy among the public,” Theofelus said.

According to authorities, AI is now present across several sectors in the country, from finance and education to administrative services. While this rapid adoption creates industrial and economic opportunities, it also raises new uncertainties. The Information Ministry noted that the country is facing an increase in artificially generated content that is increasingly hard for the public to detect, at a time when cybersecurity and digital trust concerns are on the rise.

We are also seeing people being scammed out of their hard-earned money or being told they have won prizes using a synthetic voice that sounds like it comes from a credible source,” the Minister added.

To address these challenges, Windhoek plans to launch a nationwide awareness campaign. The initiative will include programs in schools, public sessions explaining generative technologies, and stronger regulations on the use of AI tools in media and public services. The government also plans to work with the private sector and civil society organizations to broaden the campaign’s reach.

Authorities stressed that digital education is essential to any innovation strategy. The goal is to ensure that AI is used responsibly and that citizens can identify potential risks, especially during election periods. Namibia is also preparing a national AI framework to define principles for transparency, ethics, and data protection.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

On the same topic
Government launches satellite program to reach underserved and remote areas Goal is to connect one million people to the Internet by the end of...
Mauritania launches e-health initiatives, including a national vaccination database and the E-CNAM platform for digital insurance and...
CAMTEL signs a three-year deal with Ethio Telecom to support digital modernisation and prepare the launch of its Blue Money service. The...
The African Development Bank has greenlit a second-phase loan to support Cabo Verde’s E-Governance and Public Financial Management Reform...
Most Read
01

Camtel to launch Blue Money in 2026, entering Cameroon’s crowded mobile money market led by MTN Mo...

Cameroon: State Owned Telecommunication Company To Enter Mobile Money Market
02

Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 860+ startups but faces deep structural weaknesses EY urges...

Major Tech Reforms Needed for Francophone SSA to Attract More Investment, Report Says
03

Kossi Ténou succeeds Badanam Patoki as president of the AMF-UMOA. Ténou brings over 20 years of e...

Togo’s Kossi Ténou Appointed President of AMF-UMOA
04

This week in African health news: Global measles cases have dropped nearly 80 percent since 2000, bu...

Measles Cases Drop 80%, Ethiopia's Marburg Response and Cholera in DRC (Weekly Health Update)
05

Maersk will resume transit through the Suez Canal from December 2025 after a two-year diversion. ...

Maersk to Resume Suez Canal Transit in December
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.