UCAP 2025 Congress Ends with Call on African Media Institutions to “establish ethical guidelines for use of AI”

They also commited to enhancing the professional formation of Media Practitioners in Africa by integrating modules on AI, digital literacy, and Catholic social teaching into training programs, as well as Media Education.

UCAP members said they would collaborate with Episcopal Conferences, universities, policymakers, and civil society to develop frameworks that balance technological innovation with moral responsibility.

They further commited to working actively to foster a culture of peace, reconciliation, and fraternity by giving voice to the voiceless and promoting communication that safeguards truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity.

Recommendations

In a series of recommendations, UCAP members invite governments and policymakers to “regulate the use of AI to prevent the erosion of truth, manipulation of consciences, and invasion of privacy. Invest in digital infrastructure and ethical frameworks that protect human dignity while supporting innovation.”

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They call on media organizations to “adopt editorial policies that ensure AI tools do not replace human judgment, conscience, or responsibility, and establish fact-checking mechanisms and promote transparency in the use of AI-generated content.”

UCAP members further call on Catholic media professionals to commit to ongoing professional formation in technology, ethics, and communication, inspired by Catholic social teaching.

They further call on their peers to serve as “missionaries of peace and reconciliation” by resisting disinformation and promoting integrity in journalism.

They also invite Catholic media professionals to popularize the Final document of the Synod on the Synodality among Media practitioners and to ensure the document’s proper understanding in different languages, according to communities and countries.

To the Church in Africa, UCAP members say, “Continue to guide and support Catholic communicators in discerning the ethical challenges posed by AI. Encourage dioceses and Catholic institutions to invest in media education that forms journalists in truth, responsibility, and service to the common good.”