Using Artificial Intelligence Tools to Verify Fake News in Digital Media Organizations (A Field Study on Iraqi News Website Communicators(

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in verifying fake news within Iraqi digital journalism institutions, focusing on the level of reliance by journalists and administrative departments on these tools, evaluating their effectiveness in early detection of misleading information, analyzing the professional, organizational, and technical factors affecting their efficiency, and proposing practical strategies to enhance news credibility and reduce the spread of misinformation.

The study falls within the scope of descriptive-analytical field research, relying on the direct collection of data from communication officers in prominent Iraqi news websites, namely: Alsumaria News, Al-Akhbar Al-Iraqiya, and All Iraq, to investigate the use and efficiency of AI tools in the digital journalism work environment. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted to observe the current practices and analyze the collected data using scientific and statistical methods, while interpreting the impact of professional, organizational, and technical factors on tool efficiency.

The sample was selected using a convenience purposive method, consisting of 210 participants who are communication and digital media professionals. The sample was chosen due to their accessibility and practical experience with digital content and fake news verification tools, making their opinions and practices highly valuable both scientifically and practically. Data were collected using a specially designed questionnaire to measure the level of reliance on AI tools and their effectiveness, with validity and comprehensiveness ensured by digital media experts.

The results indicated that the majority of participants highly rely on AI tools, with 45.7% indicating "very high" reliance and 33.8% "moderate," with common use of text, image, and video analysis tools, as well as tools for cross-referencing information with credible sources, while specialized tools remained limited. The results also highlighted the importance of training and technological infrastructure, as 61% of participants had received training. The AI tools demonstrated significant contributions in enhancing content accuracy, reducing journalistic errors, and detecting misleading news.

The study recommends developing comprehensive training programs, updating the technological infrastructure of institutions, enhancing integration between AI tools and journalistic processes, establishing clear policies for news verification, and adopting innovative tools for text, image, and video analysis, ensuring improved news reliability and reduced dissemination of fake news.