In a concerning development, a fabricated Newsday article, generated by artificial intelligence (AI), has been circulating on social media, falsely implicating Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo in promoting a fraudulent investment scheme. Newsday has confirmed that no such article was published. This incident is part of a broader trend of AI-driven misinformation targeting media outlets and public figures in Trinidad and Tobago (TT).
Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Dominic Smith, addressed the growing threat of online scams and deep-fake technology in the Senate on October 29. He highlighted the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee on September 11 by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to combat these issues. The committee aims to address the misuse of AI in creating deep-fake videos, which have been used to impersonate prominent figures such as former president Anthony Carmona and Republic Bank’s former chairman Ronald Ramkissoon.
Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, who raised the motion, emphasized the dangers of deep-fakes, which exploit images, voices, and likenesses to deceive the public. He warned that such technology poses significant risks to public trust, intellectual property, and the creative industries. Vieira called for legislative measures akin to the UK’s proposed protections for artists and the US’s Elvis Act, which criminalizes unauthorized AI-generated impersonations.
Vieira also urged TT to collaborate with international bodies like Caricom and the World Intellectual Property Organisation to adopt best practices in combating AI-driven fraud. He suggested public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on identifying and reporting deep-fakes.
Minister Smith reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing AI-related risks, noting that AI disinformation is now a top global concern. He highlighted the proactive steps taken by the government, including the establishment of the inter-ministerial committee, which will coordinate national cybersecurity policies and enhance law enforcement capabilities to tackle AI-driven scams.
Smith emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, citing his role as president of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), which has formed a task force on AI and risk. He assured that the government is focused on ensuring AI serves as a tool for development rather than exploitation, aligning with global efforts to safeguard digital infrastructure and public trust.