Phnom Penh:Cambodia is set to host the "ASEAN Multi-Stakeholder Symposium on Disinformation Mitigation and Synthetic Media Management in the Digital Age" on November 4 and 5. This event aims to bring together regional and international stakeholders to enhance cooperation in addressing disinformation and the evolving challenges of the digital information landscape.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the symposium will be co-organized by the Ministry of Information, the German Federal Foreign Office through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Swiss Embassy to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN. It will be chaired by Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information; Silke Röfer, German Ambassador to Cambodia; and Reto Grninger, Head of the Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency in Cambodia. Additionally, Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, will deliver a pre-recorded address.
The event will convene representatives from ASEAN Senior Officials in Charge of Information (SOMRI), the ASEAN Working Group on Fake News (TFFN), various ASEAN sector bodies, and other stakeholders including government institutions, academic and research institutions, think tanks, civil society organizations, media, social media platforms, and experts from ASEAN Member States, Germany, Switzerland, and the European Union.
The symposium aims to facilitate in-depth discussions among policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, and social media service providers to develop practical and coordinated strategies for mitigating disinformation. It will also focus on strengthening cooperation between SOMRIs and external stakeholders, identifying emerging trends and gaps in the information and media landscapes, and supporting evidence-based research and best practices.
Key topics will include the challenges of misinformation and disinformation, effective information governance, media and information literacy, and the use of digital strategies to enhance collective regional responses. The event will also help compile research and produce podcasts to increase public awareness.
The symposium is expected to contribute to regional peace, social stability, and harmony by strengthening information management, security, and diplomacy while fostering multilateral cooperation. It aims to build stronger networks between government institutions, researchers, civil society organizations, and technology companies to ensure that efforts to combat disinformation respect freedom of expression.
Building on Cambodia's national 'Say No to Fake News' campaigns, the symposium will further strengthen the country's engagement with ASEAN member states and dialogue partners in combating disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. This initiative responds to growing concerns about fake news and AI-generated synthetic media on social media platforms, emphasizing the need for collective action to promote accurate and reliable information.