An AI-powered tool aims to combat fake news in the Arab world and beyond

Special An AI-powered tool aims to combat fake news in the Arab world and beyond
Misinformation and disinformation are considered a top short-term global risk that not only mislead the public but also erode trust, deepen societal divisions and threaten fundamental human rights. (Shutterstock illustration)
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Updated 22 November 2024
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An AI-powered tool aims to combat fake news in the Arab world and beyond

An AI-powered tool aims to combat fake news in the Arab world and beyond
  • Developed jointly with EU academic institutions, FRAPPE is the brainchild of Preslav Nakov of Abu Dhabi’s MBZUAI
  • System trained with 23 different linguistic techniques, can identify specific persuasion and propaganda techniques

RIYADH: Rising concern over disinformation’s role in manipulating public opinion has motivated Preslav Nakov, a professor at the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, to develop an AI-powered tool for detecting propaganda. 

FRAPPE, short for Framing, Persuasion and Propaganda Explorer, is designed to assess news framing techniques and identify potential instances of information manipulation.

Nakov, chair of the natural language processing department and professor of natural language processing at the Abu Dhabi-based MBZUAI, said that AI plays a central role in FRAPPE by analyzing, categorizing and detecting complex patterns that influence readers’ opinions and emotions. 

The tool offers real-time, on-the-fly analysis of individual articles while enabling a comprehensive comparison of framing and persuasion strategies across a wide range of media outlets, he told Arab News. 

The UN defines disinformation as inaccurate information deliberately created and disseminated with the intent to deceive the public and cause serious harm. It can be spread by both state and non-state actors and can affect human rights, fuel armed conflict and undermine public policy responses. 

The Global Risks Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum identifies misinformation and disinformation as a top short-term global risk. These forms of deceptive communication not only mislead the public but also erode trust, deepen societal divisions and threaten fundamental human rights. 

Nevertheless, the WEF highlighted in an article in June that while AI technologies are being used in the production of both misinformation and disinformation, they can be harnessed to combat this risk by analyzing patterns, language and context. 




Prof. Preslav Nakov, developer of an AI-powered tool for detecting propaganda. (Supplied)

Nakov said that FRAPPE, trained with 23 different linguistic techniques, “uses AI to identify specific persuasion and propaganda techniques, such as name-calling, loaded language, appeals to fear, exaggeration and repetition.” 

“FRAPPE further uses AI to perform framing analysis,” he said, adding that the tool distinguishes “the main perspectives from which an issue is being discussed: Morality, fairness, equality, political, and cultural identity.” 

With a database of in excess of 2.5 million articles from more than 8,000 sources, the multilingual system enables users to explore and compare how different countries and outlets frame and present information. 

DID YOUKNOW?

• Disinformation is the intentional spread of false information to sway public opinion.

• Propaganda often employs loaded language to elicit emotional reactions.

• A WEF report identifies disinformation and misinformation as a top short-term risk.

Moreover, to build the training data for the system, more than 40 journalists from several European countries contributed to the manual analysis of news content in 13 languages. 

This manual analysis, according to Nakov, allows FRAPPE to discern the underlying frames that shape how stories are told and perceived. By identifying the dominant frames within an article, FRAPPE compares these across media sources, countries and languages, providing valuable insights into how framing varies globally. 

FRAPPE is designed for a broad audience, including the general public, journalists, researchers, and even policymakers. 




With an extensive database, FRAPPE's  multilingual system enables users to explore and compare how different countries and outlets frame and present information. (Supplied)

“For the general user, FRAPPE serves as an educational tool to explore how news content is framed, enabling them to identify propaganda techniques like name-calling, flag-waving, loaded language and appeals to fear,” Nakov said. 

“For journalists and policymakers, FRAPPE offers a powerful tool to examine and compare framing and persuasion strategies across different countries, languages and outlets,” he added. 

The system relies on annotations from journalists who manually identified persuasion and propaganda techniques across a wide range of articles. This minimizes the risk of overly subjective or one-sided interpretations. 

Transparency and unbiased analysis were fundamental in the development of FRAPPE. Nakov said: “Users should be aware that our models use neural networks and, as such, they lack explainability.” 

He also warned that “despite our intent, due to potential unintended article selection biases, FRAPPE might be favoring some political or social standpoints.” 

On the positive side, however, “FRAPPE has the potential to influence the way news articles are perceived and consumed, and journalists may become more aware of the language they use and its potential impact on readers.” 




FRAPPE has the ability to spot persuasive or manipulative techniques in news content. (Supplied)

To spot persuasive or manipulative techniques in news content, Nakov advises readers and viewers to “watch out for emotional language designed to provoke strong reactions like fear or anger, and be mindful of loaded words, such as ‘radical’ and ‘heroic, which carry emotional weight.”

He urged readers to critically assess articles that rely too heavily on a single expert or selective quotes, stressing the importance of considering how different outlets might report the same event in contrasting ways. 

To gain a clearer perspective, Nakov advises cross-checking sources and comparing how different media outlets cover the same story. This approach helps reveal varying angles, biases or framing techniques. 

He also stressed that oversimplified “us versus them” narratives “often indicate manipulation, as do articles that frame an issue with a particular angle, leaving out important details. 




FRAPPE has been featured in numerous EU workshops focused on combating fake news. (Supplied)

“False dilemmas, where only extreme choices are presented and repetitive phrases meant to reinforce a point are also red flags,” he said. 

“FRAPPE envisions empowering individuals and institutions to make more informed decisions by revealing the framing and persuasion techniques embedded in media content. Its aim is to enhance transparency in journalism, promote trust in media and contribute to a more informed, media-literate public.” 

Developed in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Center and several academic institutions across Europe, FRAPPE was launched ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, held in the EU between June 6-9 this year. 

The tool, integrated into the Europe Media Monitor, has been featured in numerous EU workshops focused on combating fake news.



 

 


German club drops Israeli striker over Gaza-linked social media posts

German club drops Israeli striker over Gaza-linked social media posts
Updated 05 August 2025
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German club drops Israeli striker over Gaza-linked social media posts

German club drops Israeli striker over Gaza-linked social media posts
  • Fortuna Dusseldorf ‘decides not’ to sign Shon Weissman from Granada
  • Player alleged to have made ‘disrespectful and discriminatory’ comments online

LONDON: German football club Fortuna Dusseldorf has canceled the signing of Israeli striker Shon Weissman following a backlash over his alleged links to controversial social media posts about the war in Gaza.

The club confirmed the decision on Tuesday. In a brief statement on X it said: “We looked into Shon Weissman intensively, but ultimately decided not to sign him.”

While the club did not elaborate, German newspaper Bild reported that the decision followed an outcry by fans over Weissman’s online comments, some of which were described as “disrespectful and discriminatory.”

The player had already arrived in Dusseldorf and completed his medical checks.

News of Weissman’s planned move from Spanish side Granada sparked online protests on Monday. Critics said his posts were at odds with Fortuna’s values and “the principles the club stands for and promotes.”

The club initially responded to the criticism by defending the player.

A post on Fortuna’s account published late on Monday said: “What’s going on here? I keep getting messages. Judging people you don’t know based on their Wikipedia page? That doesn’t reflect our values.”

But the post was soon obscured and the club — reportedly aware of the earlier posts — called off the €500,000 ($580,000) deal.

Weissman, who has 33 caps for Israel, has been involved in several online controversies in recent years and was unpopular among some Granada supporters.

Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, he allegedly wrote or endorsed multiple inflammatory statements, including calls to “wipe Gaza off the map” and to “drop 200 tons of bombs on it,” according to Bild.

He also reportedly liked a post that said “there are no innocents (in Gaza), they don’t need to be warned.”

In 2023, a prosecutor in Granada received a hate speech complaint related to Weissman’s online activity. The player’s agent later claimed the posts were made by a social media manager with access to his accounts and were subsequently deleted.

This is not the first time the Gaza war has had repercussions in German football.

Dutch international Anwar El Ghazi was sacked by Bundesliga side Mainz over comments he made online about the conflict. He later won a wrongful dismissal case against the club, which is currently under appeal.

Former Bayern Munich defender and current Manchester United player Noussair Mazraoui also faced a backlash for social media posts expressing solidarity with Palestinians, including one calling for “victory” for “our oppressed brothers in Palestine.” He later issued a public apology.


Spotify to raise premium subscription price in MENA, other select markets from September

Spotify to raise premium subscription price in MENA, other select markets from September
Updated 04 August 2025
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Spotify to raise premium subscription price in MENA, other select markets from September

Spotify to raise premium subscription price in MENA, other select markets from September
  • Subscription price will rise to 11.99 euros per month

LONDON: Spotify said on Monday it would increase monthly price of its premium individual subscription in select markets from September, including the Middle East, as the Swedish streaming giant looks to improve margins.

The company’s shares jumped nearly 8 percent. They have gained about 40 percent so far this year.

As well as the Middle East, the subscription price will rise to 11.99 euros ($13.86) per month from 10.99 euros in markets including South Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Spotify said subscribers will receive an email explaining the price rise over the next month.

Price increases in the past, combined with cost-cutting efforts in recent years, have helped it to achieve its first annual profit for 2024.

The company saw an increase in monthly active users and premium subscribers during the second quarter, while higher taxes related to employee salaries led it to post a loss during the period and weighed on its third-quarter profit forecast.

Spotify has been expanding its library of video content to attract subscribers, including through its partner program, which is designed to help podcast creators by offering them monetization options.

A growing number of creators are joining the Spotify Partner Program, resulting in a significant increase in video content on the platform, CEO Daniel Ek had earlier told Reuters.

The streaming company is also benefiting from Apple’s approval of its US app update to show subscription prices and external payment links, after a judge barred the iPhone maker from charging commission on off-app purchases.

Ek said this change has led to “a very positive uptick” in the US If similar rules are adopted in Europe and the UK, it would benefit both Spotify and other app developers.


Over 100 journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza as pressure on Israel mounts

Over 100 journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza as pressure on Israel mounts
Updated 04 August 2025
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Over 100 journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza as pressure on Israel mounts

Over 100 journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza as pressure on Israel mounts
  • Petition of Freedom to Report initiative says if ‘belligerent parties’ ignore demands, media professionals will attempt to enter Gaza without consent

LONDON: More than 100 prominent journalists have called for “immediate and unsupervised foreign press access to the Gaza Strip,” adding to mounting pressure on Israel to lift its blockade on the territory, where Tel Aviv also faces charges of war crimes and genocide.

The petition has been launched under the Freedom to Report initiative which advocates for protecting journalists and upholding press independence globally.

The signatories include Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford, broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and Clarissa Ward, and legendary war photographer Don McCullin.

“This is not only about Gaza. It is about defending the universal right to independent, on-the-ground reporting in conflict zones everywhere,” read the statement published on Monday.

“Gaza is the most urgent case, but it is not the only one. It reflects the gravest pattern of silencing journalists and restricting the press. If the democratic world truly intends to push back against this erosion of freedom, it must not turn a blind eye to Gaza.”

With Israel continuing to deny international media access, global coverage has relied almost exclusively on Gaza-based Palestinian journalists. They have worked for nearly 22 months under extreme conditions, facing shortages of food, water, electricity, and internet access, and daily risks to their lives.

Israel has so far resisted calls from human rights groups and media organizations to allow entry to foreign reporters.

But the pressure has intensified in recent weeks amid growing international concern over what UN agencies and humanitarian experts have described as a “man-made famine” caused by the Israeli blockade on aid.

Last month, major international news agencies — including AFP, The Associated Press, Reuters, and the BBC — issued a joint statement calling for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate their local teams, some of whom were struggling to find enough food to survive.

Since Israel’s latest war on Gaza began, nearly 200 journalists have been killed — most of them Palestinian — making this the deadliest conflict for the press ever recorded.

Beyond calling for immediate access and protection of media workers, the petition adds that if “belligerent parties” continue to ignore these demands, journalists would seek to enter Gaza without consent.

They would try to gain access “by any legitimate means, independently, collectively, or in coordination with humanitarian or civil society actors.”

“These restrictions deprive the world of an impartial account and obstruct the path to accountability,” the letter stated.

“Unrestricted, independent access for foreign journalists is urgently needed, not only to document the unfolding atrocities but to ensure that the truth of this war is not dictated by those who control the weapons and the narrative.”


Pro-Palestine online content in UK risks censorship, rights groups warn

Pro-Palestine online content in UK risks censorship, rights groups warn
Updated 02 August 2025
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Pro-Palestine online content in UK risks censorship, rights groups warn

Pro-Palestine online content in UK risks censorship, rights groups warn
  • Online Safety Act, banning of Palestine Action present dual threat for users, letter says
  • Content supporting Palestinians risks being identified as supporting terrorism

LONDON: Pro-Palestine online content in the UK could be censored through the twin threat of the Online Safety Act and banning of Palestine Action, human rights groups have warned.

Content in support of Palestinians published online could be misconstrued as supporting Palestine Action, a protest group that was proscribed under anti-terrorism laws on July 5, The Guardian reported on Saturday.

Index on Censorship, Open Rights Group and other organizations have written to Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, to request clarification on the matter.

Signatories to the letter also warned that online content objecting to Palestine Action’s banning could be misidentified as unlawful support for the group.

Open Rights Group’s Sara Chitseko, a pre-crime program manager, told The Guardian: “Crucial public debate about Gaza is being threatened by vague, overly broad laws that could lead to content about Palestine being removed or hidden online.

“There’s also a real danger that people will start self-censoring, worried they might be breaking the law just by sharing or liking posts related to Palestine and nonviolent direct action.

“This is a serious attack on freedom of expression and the right to protest in the UK. We need to ensure that people can share content about Palestine online without being afraid that they will be characterised as supportive of terrorism.”

Major online social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have been advised by Ofcom that they can avoid concerns about meeting the requirements of the Online Safety Act if they are more stringent with censoring content than is mandated by the act.

The letter sent to Ofcom by the rights groups warned: “This approach risks encouraging automated moderation that disproportionately affects political speech, particularly from marginalised communities, including Palestinian voices.”

The UK, unlike the EU, lacks a mechanism through which users can appeal the censoring of their online content.

Signatories to the letter — which was also sent to Meta, Alphabet, X and ByteDance, owners of the world’s top social media platforms — called for the creation of a British dispute mechanism to discourage the censoring of lawful content.

The letter added: “We are concerned that the proscription of Palestine Action may result in an escalation of platforms removing content, using algorithms to hide Palestine solidarity posts and leave individuals and those reporting on events vulnerable to surveillance or even criminalisation for simply sharing or liking content that references nonviolent direct action.

“We are also concerned about what platforms understand by their legal duties regarding expressions of ‘support’ for Palestine Action.”

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We have provided detailed guidance to platforms about how to identify the particular types of illegal and harmful material prohibited or restricted by the act, including how to determine whether content may have been posted by a proscribed organisation.

“There is no requirement on companies to restrict legal content for adult users. In fact, they must carefully consider how they protect users’ rights to freedom of expression while keeping people safe.”


Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’

Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’
Updated 02 August 2025
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Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’

Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’
  • “For many years, I refused to use that term: ‘genocide’,” Grossman told La Repubblica
  • He told the paper he was using the word “with immense pain and with a broken heart“

ROME: : Award-winning Israeli author David Grossman called his country’s campaign in Gaza “genocide” and said he was using the term with a “broken heart.”

This came days after a major Israeli rights group also used the same term, amid growing global alarm over starvation in the besieged territory.

“For many years, I refused to use that term: ‘genocide’,” the prominent writer and peace activist told Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Friday.

“But now, after the images I have seen and after talking to people who were there, I can’t help using it.”

Grossman told the paper he was using the word “with immense pain and with a broken heart.”

“This word is an avalanche: once you say it, it just gets bigger, like an avalanche. And it adds even more destruction and suffering,” he said.

Grossman’s works, which have been translated into dozens of languages, have won many international prizes.

He also won Israel’s top literary prize in 2018, the Israel Prize for Literature, for his work spanning more than three decades.

He said it was “devastating” to “put the words ‘Israel’ and ‘famine’ together” because of the Holocaust and our “supposed sensitivity to the suffering of humanity.”

The celebrated author has long been a critic of the Israeli government.