ACMJ Article

This paper explores the legal and regulatory challenges associated with automated content distribution in public relations, critically analysing issues of content control in Nigeria, including copyright concerns, misinformation liability, and conformity challenges. Using a descriptive survey method, data were collected from 342 respondents via online sampling and analysed using frequency distributions and averages. The findings reveal that automated content creation raises significant issues regarding plagiarism, originality, reservations, and ownership of the produced material, while current copyright laws are largely symbolic in protecting AI-generated content within automated distribution systems. The analysis also confirms that automated tools increase the risk of misinformation, yet public relations practitioners are often not held morally accountable when AI systems publish their content. Furthermore, the study uncovers that Nigeria’s lack of clear legal frameworks exposes brands to legal and reputational risks, and organisational fact-checking and compliance policies remain unpredictable. The paper concludes that, despite AI’s efficiency and innovative potential in public relations, its utilisation is hampered by inadequate intellectual property regulations, accountability issues, and weak regulatory structures. It advocates for reforms in Nigeria’s copyright laws, the development of internal compliance policies by PR agencies, the institutionalisation of fact-checking systems, and proactive monitoring by professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. To facilitate the responsible integration of AI into public relations practice, these standards must be established.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES OF AUTOMATED CONTENT DISTRIBUTION IN PUBLIC RELATIONS IN NIGERIA, 2025, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 28-38. PDF