In a Brave New World, Journalists Need Protection More Than Ever- Renowned Human Rights Advocate Agbor Balla

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – Renowned human rights advocate Nkongho Felix Agbor “Agbor Balla” has issued a powerful statement calling for urgent action to protect journalism in the era of artificial intelligence and digital surveillance as journalists in Cameroon marked World Press Freedom Day.

World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3, was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993 and serves as a reminder of the importance of a free and independent press in promoting peace, justice, and democracy.

This year’s commemoration, themed “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media”, challenges governments, media institutions, and the public to consider how emerging technologies are transforming both the potential and the peril of modern journalism.

Agbor Balla, President of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) underscored the double-edged nature of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that Artificial intelligence holds the promise of enhancing the speed, reach, and efficiency of news production and distribution. Yet it also presents serious challenges: the spread of disinformation, deepfakes, surveillance threats, and the potential erosion of editorial independence.

“In this brave new world, defending press freedom means not only protecting journalists from traditional threats but also safeguarding the integrity and credibility of information in the digital age,” Agbor Balla said.

In his statement, Agbor Balla lamented the continued repression journalists face globally – including in Cameroon – where harassment, censorship, media capture, and lack of institutional support persist. Agbor Balla called for stronger legal protections for journalists, the adoption of access to information law, and greater transparency and ethical standards in the use of AI within the media sector.

“We must collectively resist these threats and reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom as a cornerstone of human rights and democracy,” he said.

“A free press is not an enemy of the people – it is a watchdog for accountability, a catalyst for reforms, and a lifeline for democratic participation. In Cameroon and beyond, we call for stronger legal protections for journalists, transparency in the use of AI in media, and ethical frameworks that support truth, human dignity, and journalistic independence.”

The rights advocate reminded Cameroonians that the public’s right to know depends on a press that can operate independently and without fear. He emphasized that access to information law will reduce the burden of seeking verifiable information by journalists in Cameroon.

The President of CHRDA urged all stakeholders – from policymakers to civil society – to rise to the challenge of this new technological frontier. “Let us honour the courage of all media professionals who risk everything to inform the public. Their fight is our fight. Press freedom in the age of AI is our shared responsibility,” Agbor Balla said.