CNN journalist Larry Madowo has publicly condemned an online smear campaign using AI-generated images that falsely link him to efforts aimed at discrediting Tanzania.
The clarification came on Sunday, December 7, after misinformation circulated suggesting he was sponsored to tarnish the East African nation’s reputation.
Taking to social media, Madowo dismissed the claims, emphasizing that he has not been paid by anyone to damage anyone’s image.
“Bongo has failed to respond to my recent report, and instead, they have opted to attack me with lies,” he stated.
He warned that artificial intelligence is being misused to generate false images of him meeting influential individuals, urging the public to scrutinize what they see online.
“Instead of addressing the content of my report, they are resorting to insults and fabricated stories,” Madowo added.
The journalist gained notoriety in Tanzania following his investigative documentary on the post-election unrest after the October 29 polls. The film highlighted alleged sites of mass graves used to conceal victims of protests and police brutality.
Madowo had earlier reported being denied accreditation to cover the elections in Tanzania, limiting his access to the country as a journalist.
Initially, many Tanzanians praised Madowo for shedding light on human rights concerns and political tensions following President Samia Suluhu’s largely uncontested election victory.
However, sentiment shifted after social media posts suggested he was collaborating with activist Maria Sarungi, a prominent critic of Suluhu’s administration. Investigations by Kenyans.co.ke confirmed that the controversial images were AI-generated, not real.
Despite mounting online criticism, Madowo stands by his documentary, insisting that the Tanzanian government has offered no meaningful rebuttal to the claims raised in his report.
Pressure on President Samia Suluhu continues, with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee calling for an independent probe into alleged post-election human rights violations.
In response, the Tanzanian government announced plans to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the reported violence and produce a comprehensive report.
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