Pope Leo urges news outlets not to ‘sell out’ for click-bait

Pope Leo urged global news agencies on Thursday never to betray their duty to telling the truth by focusing on “click-bait” articles and to exercise caution in using artificial intelligence tools in their reporting.

“Communication must be freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it ... and from the degrading practice of so-called click-bait,” the pope said. “I urge you, never sell out your authority.”

“You can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing,” Leo told journalists attending a conference held by Minds International, a non-profit organization that includes Reuters and other news agencies.

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Leo, the first US pope, also thanked journalists for their work reporting in Ukraine and Gaza and reiterated his call for the release of reporters who have been jailed for doing their jobs.

“Every day, there are reporters who put their lives at risk to inform people about what is really happening,” said the pope. “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine, and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them.”

On the use of artificial intelligence tools, Leo asked reporters to fight against “junk” information and to help people recognize fact from fiction.

“We are not destined to live in a world where truth is no longer distinguishable from fiction,” said the pope.

“Artificial intelligence is changing the way we receive information and communicate, but who directs it and for what purposes?” the pope asked.

“We must be vigilant in order to ensure that technology does not replace human beings,” he said.

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