Content created by artificial intelligence muddies the waters of what is real and what is misinformation. But in Venezuela, AI is being used as a tool to not only tell real stories but protect the people trying to tell them.
The fallout from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s disputed election in July led to a government-driven crackdown that began when he first came to power in 2013. Since then, it has become increasingly dangerous to be a reporter in the country. Reporters Without Borders says: “Journalism is heavily restricted in Venezuela. Reporters are often beaten or threatened in the course of their work during elections or political conflicts. As President Maduro controls both the attorney general’s office and the ombudsman’s office, neither helps to guarantee the safety of journalists, with the result that physical or verbal violence against them is seldom investigated.”
But several media organizations have found a way to report the truth and protect journalists at the …