Dr. Irwanya S. Sos from the University of Indonesia shares the ASEAN’s Guidelines on Management of Government Information in Combatting Fake News and Disinformation in the Media during the preliminary discussion of the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI). (PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) participates in cross-country collaborations among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 1 to 3, 2024, focusing on combating fake news and disinformation in the region.
This collaborative initiative is taking shape in the 9th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI), particularly the Working Group on Information, Media, and Training (WG-IMT) on October 2-3, 2024, in Jakarta.
The SOMRI WG-IMT is one of the major sectoral committees of the ASEAN tasked with providing recommendations in the fieldS of information, media, and training at a policy level, with the goal of developing an information dissemination framework that effectively responds to the challenges posed by digital information.
During the meeting, the PIA delegates, together with the representatives from the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News (TFFN), will engage in a dialogue on how different information sectors in the region can further equip citizens with media and information literacy skills.
The forum also serves as a platform to review the outcomes of 16th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), which are pivotal in sustaining the gains of the region in its fight against fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
Prior to the meeting, the Philippine delegation also joins other ASEAN Member States in the ASEAN-Australia Workshop on Familiarisation with the ASEAN Guideline, also being held in Jakarta.
Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn about the ASEAN Guideline on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation in the Media, which provides actionable insights and best practices on promoting accuracy, transparency, reliability, and accountability in government communications.
Moreover, the Philippines have sent youth participants to the four-day Digital SPARK Challenge 2024, from September 30 to October 3, in a bid to tackle the pervasive issue of fake news and content manipulation. The challenge, co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia and organized in collaboration with The Asia Foundation and Love Frankie, aimed to empower youth from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and Australia to develop innovative strategies against misinformation.
The event focuses on two primary themes: identifying and mitigating fake news, including misinformation and disinformation, and addressing the manipulation of content through AI-generated materials and deepfakes. Related issues such as hate speech, online bullying, and privacy violations were also addressed.
It can be recalled that in September 2023, PIA Director-General Jose A. Torres, Jr. led the Philippine delegation to the 16th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), where he expressed the commitment of the country’s government communication arm to actively work towards shaping informed and digitally-responsible citizenry.
“In an era of rapid change, communication is the bedrock upon which resilient societies are built. And we will address, as a united region, the challenges and opportunities that may come in the rapidly evolving field of media and information,” said Torres.
The participation of the PIA in this year’s ASEAN SOMRI WG-IMT Meeting and related events in Jakarta is a testament to this commitment in ensuring that the creation of a safe and reliable information space for Filipinos will contribute to nation-building.
The PIA delegation includes Assistant Director-General Atty. Tadeo R. Culla, Creative and Production Services Division Chief Bradley S. De Leon, Planning and Communication Research Division Chief Ann Lorraine B. Macadaeg, PIA National Capital Region Chief Emver P. Cortez, PIA Region 11 Chief Rene V. Carbayas, and ODIA Executive Assistant Ms. Joan Salidumay T. Torres. (PIA-NCR)
