National Charter for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism Presented
The Press Council, in partnership with the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, presented the National Charter for the use of artificial intelligence in journalism on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the syndicate's headquarters. This initiative marks a major step in regulating the use of artificial intelligence in Tunisian media.
Elaboration of the Charter
Developed in collaboration with professionals in the sector, this charter establishes a clear ethical and professional framework. It aims to make artificial intelligence a tool at the service of the quality of journalistic work, while guaranteeing citizens' right to reliable, diverse, and contextualized information. The text emphasizes a fundamental principle: artificial intelligence must remain an assistance tool and cannot replace human judgment or ethical rules. The journalist remains the sole responsible party, on both legal and moral grounds, for the published content.
Transparency, Verification, and Data Protection
The charter highlights the obligation to inform the public. Any use of artificial intelligence in written, audiovisual, or digital production must be clearly indicated throughout the editorial process. The document also imposes systematic verification of AI-generated content to prevent errors and "hallucinations" that could alter the reliability of the information. Security and confidentiality are another pillar of the text. It is strictly forbidden to introduce sensitive data, confidential sources, or personal data into third-party artificial intelligence tools.
Fighting Algorithmic Biases
The fight against algorithmic biases is also a priority. Newsrooms are called upon to exercise constant vigilance to avoid reproducing stereotypes or discrimination.
Professional Opportunities and Ethical Safeguards
The Press Council emphasizes that artificial intelligence represents a strategic opportunity for the media, particularly thanks to its increased research capabilities, complex data analysis, and editorial optimization. However, it warns against unregulated use, which could lead to a loss of reliability, uniformization of content, and dilution of editorial responsibility. To prevent these drifts, the charter imposes strict respect for copyright when training artificial intelligence models, maximum transparency towards the public, and the adoption by each newsroom of an internal editorial charter, ideally made public.
Towards a New Contract of Trust with the Public
Beyond the technical aspect, the Press Council considers that the integration of artificial intelligence into journalism must be part of a new contract of trust between the media and citizens. AI must contribute to strengthening the rigor of verification and the quality of information, to guarantee each Tunisian access to reliable information, whether produced by a journalist alone or with the assistance of a machine.
