CSO Voices in Cambodia Needed in AI Discussions
On 17 June 2024, nearly 50 representatives from local civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia participated in the event “Digital Technology in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities” held in Phnom Penh. During the event, panellists and participants highlighted that, given the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping Cambodia’s society, the voices of CSOs must be heard in relevant discussions to ensure technological developments contribute to creating a just society. During the event, five panellists shared their experiences of using digital technology in their work, reflecting on how the popularisation of these tools has transformed Cambodian society and discussing potential future changes in light of new developments like artificial intelligence. The Asia Centre organised the event with the support of Google as part of the project Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, spanning from November 2023 to October 2024. For this engagement in Phnom Penh, the AmCam Exchange Center – Pannasastra University of Cambodia hosted the event at their premises. The event began with opening remarks from Dr Chea Sophea, Executive Director of the AmCam Exchange Centre. He emphasised the importance of having more meeting spaces and opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders to discuss critical issues facing Cambodian society, such as the challenges and opportunities arising from the country’s digital transformation. Dr James Gomez, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, also delivered opening remarks. He brought to the attention of the audience that Cambodia ranks 145th out of 193 countries in AI readiness with a score of 31.88 (where 0 is the lowest and 100 is the highest). Dr Gomez stressed the importance of gatherings like this to openly discuss how AI and digital tools which can help Cambodian society move forward in technology journey. During the panel discussion, five female speakers representing different civil society sectors in Cambodia provided their insights on using technology in their respective professions. Their views added significant value to the discussion about the role of technology in shaping Cambodian society. They highlighted not only how technology has transformed the country over the past 15 years but also how they expect recent developments will further impact it. The first speaker was Professor Meas Nearyroth, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Education at Pannasastra University of Cambodia. During her presentation, she outlined how digital technology in the education sector has become particularly relevant from the COVID-19 pandemic onwards. On the one hand, digital technology offers endless opportunities to implement new pedagogical approaches in learning spaces, such as flipped classrooms, personalised learning, and better accessibility to resources. On the other hand, tools like AI pose new challenges, including plagiarism and a lack of critical engagement with data. Professor Nearyroth emphasised the need for further discussions to maximise the benefits of technology and AI while addressing these challenges. Siv Vatana, Research and Web Content Manager at Open Development Cambodia discussed the country’s digital transformation from a regulatory perspective. She emphasised that while digital technology offers endless opportunities for Cambodian society, it requires thorough and fair regulations to ensure these technologies benefit everyone. This includes easier access to draft laws to allow for more public input before they are passed as laws. She also stressed the importance of making Cambodia’s digital transformation as inclusive as possible, ensuring all social groups can voice their concerns and needs. Vatana highlighted the necessity of more multi-stakeholder discussions on technology to achieve these goals. The third speaker was Catherina Harry, a content creator and influencer with her YouTube channel “A Dose of Cath.” She used her experience in creating digital content to highlight the importance of fostering an interconnected society where everyone with a smartphone can share their stories, creating content that resonates with people. She also addressed the challenges associated with owning a digital device connected to the internet, focusing on data governance. While smartphones have become indispensable tools for millions of people in Cambodia, Catherina stressed that they are also tracking devices, leaving numerous digital footprints. She urged users to carefully consider these aspects to ensure their privacy and safety. Marissa Carruthers, editor at Kiripost, shared her insights on the opportunities and challenges associated with digital technology from the perspective of media outlets. She noted that media was one of the first sectors to benefit from the widespread use of digital technology. Marissa highlighted the opportunities that arise from the ability to share information without the filters that have long characterised traditional media, both in Cambodia and globally. However, she stressed that limited digital media literacy challenges the potential benefits of digital technology. For example, the spread of disinformation is a significant issue. Without the relevant skills and media literacy, users have fewer tools to identify inaccurate information and are more likely to share it, thus amplifying false messages. Eng SreyPov, Senior Project Officer at the Cambodian Youth Network, discussed the role of technology in Cambodia, highlighting two main points. Firstly, she emphasised the importance of digital technology in online campaigning and governance, noting how new communication channels have enhanced these efforts. Secondly, SreyPov addressed two significant challenges. Firstly, echoing previous discussions, she highlighted the critical need for quality education on digital technology use, especially among youth and those in remote areas. Secondly, she underscored the relative lack of awareness about digital security threats among the public, which poses a major challenge to people’s privacy and online safety. The insights shared by all five speakers sparked meaningful exchanges among participants, with questions and comments directed towards the panellists and fellow attendees. The discussion highlighted a common concern: many civil society stakeholders feel overlooked in discussions about Cambodia’s digital transformation. Participants expressed particular concern regarding AI and cybersecurity, emphasising that while they acknowledge the benefits of current and ongoing technological developments, they feel their voices are not sufficiently heard in shaping regulations and laws. There is a strong desire for inclusive dialogue to ensure that all stakeholders provide input into these crucial areas. Asia Centre’s Dr James Gomez closed the event, expressing gratitude to all speakers and participants for their attendance
CSOs Need to Strengthen Media Literacy for Underrepresented Groups
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the region can play an important role to strengthen media literacy for underrepresented groups – this was the thrust of the online panel discussion held on 16 May 2024 convened by Asia Centre. The event is a part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, convened by Asia Centre with support from Google Asia Pacific, to engage CSOs and their partners that currently work on the issues facing digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme, which started in December 2023, spans a year-long run of thematic online and onsite activities to bring CSOs together to address digital rights issues that they might experience. During this discussion, speakers highlighted the significant impact of civic activism and the diverse literacy initiatives across Southeast Asia. Speakers shared their experiences, challenges, and best practices for enhancing their communities’ media literacy. The session also provided an opportunity for speakers to share their MIL materials on their open-sharing platforms with the participants to further encourage MIL learning. The panel discussion featured speakers Thanh-Giang Nguyen from ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Anik Pichaya Charoonpongsakdi from the ASEAN Youth Advisory Group, Chhan Sokunthea from the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, Intan Faradila from the ASEAN Foundation, and Andreas Grigo from DW Akademie. Lina Salim from the Asia Centre facilitated the session. Thanh-Giang Nguyen, a visiting senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, discussed the impact of civic activism through informal charities in Vietnam during COVID-19, focusing on two online communities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. He highlighted their use of social media for citizen journalism and charity work as alternatives to government media. Despite cybersecurity law challenges, these groups effectively mobilised change and influenced COVID-19 policies. He emphasised the importance of civil society organisations and called for more state support for their efforts. Anik Pichaya Charoonpongsakdi, an ASEAN Youth Advisory Group member, discussed her “Think, Care, Share” campaign in Thailand, part of the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme. The project educates high school students on identifying fake news and promoting media literacy. Anik stressed the students’ roles as content creators and media consumers, encouraging them to share their knowledge. Through online and on-site sessions, students learned about fake news and created online content to share via social media. The campaign reached over 50,000 people, empowering students and teachers and highlighting the need for collaboration, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability. Chhan Sokunthea, Executive Director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), discussed efforts to engage youth in media and information literacy. She highlighted collaborations with civil society to promote media literacy, especially among university students. Despite challenges in press freedom and digital rights, CCIM remains committed to expanding outreach and promoting digital inclusion, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. She emphasised the need to address the digital divide and empower Cambodians, especially youth, to navigate digital information complexities. Intan Faradila, Project Officer from the ASEAN Foundation, provided insights into its ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (ADLP), sharing its objectives and achievements. She outlined the critical activities of the programme, including the development and localisation of digital literacy modules tailored to each ASEAN member state. Notable achievements include training over 193,000 individuals, engaging nearly one million through social media, and creating an e-learning platform to sustain the programme’s impact by hosting digital literacy modules and resources for MIL trainers to benefit from. She highlighted the ongoing efforts of trainers and urged further collaborations with local partners. Andreas Grigo, Programme Director of Digital Resilience and Dialogue at DW Akademie, discussed successful media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives, emphasising global collaboration and knowledge sharing. He advocated for integrating effective MIL strategies across regions to accelerate progress and avoid redundancy. He highlighted the crucial role of youth engagement in MIL, as they are both digital media consumers and future decision-makers. He said he used technology to enhance traditional training methods, suggesting the development of digital tools and taking a comprehensive approach to MIL; combining global collaboration, youth engagement, inclusive education, and strategic use of technology. Following the panellists’ input, the Q&A session provided further insights into MIL initiatives. Anik detailed the “Think, Care, Share” Project’s reach through online platforms, underlining the need for engaging MIL strategies for youth. Sokunthea addressed press freedom challenges in Cambodia, citing state control constraints. Thanh highlighted the significance of user-generated content during COVID-19, while Andreas advocated for collaborative MIL frameworks. Additionally, Intan showcased relevant initiatives in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar, focusing on reaching marginalised communities through innovative partnerships and offline learning modules. The speakers collectively emphasised the crucial need for comprehensive, collaborative, and sustained efforts in promoting MIL across diverse communities. The event concluded with an announcement of the opening of Asia Centre Training Hub in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and inviting participants to join the onsite meeting “Digital Technology in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities,” scheduled for 17 June 2024 at AmCam Exchange Center. Registration for the session is available here. Participants are also invited to attend the next online meeting under the Digital Rights Programme focusing on “Surveillance & Privacy”, which will be held virtually on 18 July 2024. Registration for the session is available here. Participants were encouraged to read and download the full report of the “Online Content Regulation in Asia-Pacific”, which was launched in January 2024. They were also invited to join interactive Signal Group for the CSOs network for this programme. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Disinformation Biggest Threat to Taiwan’s Democracy: CSOs Say Shift in Narrative Needed
Around 50 individuals from CSOs, diplomatic missions, media, think tanks, and universities gathered at Taiwan National University on 16 April 2024 to discuss concerns related to disinformation—the biggest digital threat facing the country. During the session, seven panellists shared their observations that there is a need to go beyond fact-checking and media literacy and focus on shifting the narratives disrupted by disinformation. The event co-convened by Asia Centre and Office of International Affairs, National Taiwan University (NTU-OIA) with support from Google, is part of a year long Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations. This meeting in Taiwan is part of a suite of monthly online and onsite activities. During the welcome remarks segment, Professor Hsiao-Wei Yuan, Vice President for International Affairs welcomed all participants and stressed the importance of discussing issues of disinformation. While Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre highlighted the important role CSOs play in combating disinformation. Chenie Yoon, Lead APAC Content Regulation, Google emphasised how collaborations across sectors and borders are important to ensure freedom of expression and access to information. At the panel discussion titled “Navigating the Digital Landscape: Responses from CSOs to Disinformation and Digital Threats in Taiwan,” seven panellists addressed disinformation from their various organisational perspectives. Isis M. Lee, Vice President, Radio Taiwan International (Rti) who moderated the panel discussion of “Navigating the Digital Landscape: Responses from CSOs to Disinformation and Digital Threats in Taiwan” reminded participants that disinformation in Taiwan extends beyond its borders. In particular, she pointed to how disinformation is used for manipulation. Leah Lin, Executive Director of the Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA), stressed the significance of technology in fostering dialogue in society, despite challenges like regulatory constraints and resource limitations faced by CSOs. She highlighted emerging digital threats like organised online attacks and surveillance abuses pose risks to human rights changemakers. Her suggestion was to build solidarity among CSOs to safeguard civic space against evolving digital threats and urged CSOs to form alliances and propose digital rights declarations. Hsin-I Lin, Director of the Social Advocacy Division at the Taiwan Reach-Out Association for Democracy (T-ROAD), highlighted the multifaceted digital threats confronting Taiwan from both physical and virtual realms, particularly exacerbated by the growing influence of foreign cultural and political propaganda. She highlighted the need for effective media literacy and constructive dialogue among diverse groups in Taiwan to overcome this foreign influence. Chao Hwei Hwang, Chief of Content at Taiwan AI Labs & Foundation, shed light on the digital landscape surrounding the 2024 Taiwan presidential election by revealing the use of generative AI and disinformation tactics to sway public opinion. She pointed to the influence from foreign state-owned media orchestrating narratives that threaten Taiwan’s democratic values. Her recommendation was to leverage AI tools to gather reliable information from various news sources and social media platforms. Alvin Chang, Managing Director of the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy (TYAD), raised concerns that as young Taiwanese engage in online platforms, they are potentially influenced and manipulated by social media from abroad. He underscored the importance of media literacy education among Taiwanese youth and urged for regulatory adaptation. He said youth must be empowered to actively engage in politics and advocate for media transparency and accountability. Marcin Jerzewski, Head of the Taiwan Office at the European Values Center for Security Policy, addressed the need for a comprehensive approach to combat disinformation and uphold democratic values of Taiwan. He highlighted that efforts to tackle digital threats often lack intersectionality, leaving indigenous and ageing populations behind. Jerzewski suggested reform to media literacy education in Taiwan to target senior citizens and indigenous communities. Filip Noubel, Managing Editor of Global Voices stressed the complexity and dynamics of disinformation. He mentioned the power of the narrative in shaping public perception, distrust, and polarisation. Noubel underlined the importance of narrative analysis in combating disinformation which he opined was more effective compared to fact-checking. He proposed the Community Civic Media Observatory (CCMO) initiative, which involves exploring various sources beyond traditional media to uncover underlying narratives. In line with the CCMO, Noubel also called for increased media literacy education among the Taiwanese public. The panel discussion ended with a networking session among all those present that lasted a good one hour. Many exchanged information of their work and sought out collaboration opportunities. To watch the highlights of the Country Meeting in Taiwan, click here. For those interested, upcoming online sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs in 2024 will cover topics on Media Information Literacy (16 May) , Surveillance & Privacy (18 July), Foreign Interference (15 August), and Artificial Intelligence (19 September). Meanwhile, plans are underway for on-site sessions in Cambodia and Malaysia. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Asia Centre Training Hub to Enhance Capacity in Cambodia
Asia Centre’s Training Hub will enhance capacity in Cambodia by undertaking research and implementing customised training programmes for community organisations, government agencies, media organisations, non-governmental organisations, and universities. The Centre will deliver its capacity-building activities by: undertaking evidence-based needs assessments; design training programmes and curriculum, provide trainers to deliver ‘train-the-trainer’ and end beneficiary sessions; track the delivery of training programmes; and produce training evaluation reports. In order to undertake these activities in March 2024, Asia Centre established its Training Hub at the Toul Kork district in Phnom Penh. This area was chosen to ensure the Centre’s operations are close to the community, as Touk Kouk is home to NGO offices, government agencies, and universities. Asia Centre (see Google map) is located at Floor 15B, Time Square 3 Building, Tuol Kouk, Phnom Penh. It is an end of corridor corner unit that is triangular in shape with full-length glass windows on all sides, with a net floor area of 75 square metres. When approaching the office from the elevator, visitors will be able to spot from afar the Asia Centre logo on the door and as they approach closer the engraved door handle. The office interior is designed using a white, grey and black colour palette and is divided into four distinct sections: 1) the Entryway; 2) the Working Area; 3) the Meeting Room; and 4) the Discussion Room. The Entryway is a long passageway connecting to the main office area. On the left side, the Asia Centre logo and a plaque showing its Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council are displayed. On the right of the entryway are full-length glass windows overlooking Toul Kouk district and Phnom Penh, which continue around the entire office unit, providing excellent natural lighting and views. The Working Area is an open-plan 4 desk system with individual drawer units and ergonomic office chairs. All desks have integrated power points for electronic devices, including individual HDMI, USB and USB Type-C outlets. There are built-in wall shelves and cabinets for storage and a wall-mounted Smart TV to display information for collaborative discussions. The Meeting Room is located close to the left of the workstations. It offers a large conference table and seating for up to 8 people. It is at one end equipped with a Smart TV and video conferencing equipment for on-site and remote meetings, and one the other end a set of built-in cabinets. In between the cabinets, the Asia Centre logo is strategically placed to be seen during video calls. The Discussion Room is located at the triangular corner end of the unit. Like the other rooms, this room also has a Smart TV with video conferencing equipment. It has a roundtable and seats up to 3 people and is suitable for one-on-one discussions and calls. Its all around view makes for an excellent natural backdrop during video calls. Towards the end of the working day when the day turns from dusk to evening, the ambience in the office also changes, as the panoramic view surrounding the office ushers in the sunset. The strategically placed ambient lighting correspondingly illuminates the office during this time providing a comfortable and warm mood as the Centre winds down for the evening. Starting April 2024, Asia Centre has been receiving existing and potential partners at the office and has had discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration in Cambodia and in the region. If you are interested in collaborating with Asia Centre please send us an email query at contact@asiacentre.org or make an appointment to visit us at our office. You can also reach us through Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Diplomatic Briefing: Asia Centre’s Training Hub in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
On April 5, 2024, the Asia Centre held a briefing for Bangkok-based diplomatic missions accredited to Cambodia. The briefing covered Asia Centre’s work in Cambodia, introduced its new Training Hub in Phnom Penh, and provided some preliminary findings from its research on electoral integrity in Cambodia. The briefing was attended by key diplomatic missions, including the Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan embassies, INGOs engaged with Cambodia, and several Australian New Colombo Plan Scholars based in Thailand. Also in attendance was Emeritus Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn in his academic role, who is also concurrently the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia. The event began with the opening remarks by Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre. He provided an overview of the Asia Centre, introduced the Training Hub in Phnom Penh, and then outlined the importance of Cambodia in the Asia Centre’s regional approach, demonstrated by the Centre’s ongoing research and engagements in the country. Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira, Research Manager at the Asia Centre, provided an overview of the Asia Centre’s work in Cambodia. He outlined and detailed the suite of research, UN submissions, and engagements that the Centre has undertaken regarding Cambodia, such as its report “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”, published in 2021 in partnership with the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law. Following this, Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira introduced Asia Centre’s preliminary findings of its research on electoral integrity in Cambodia, which is in partnership with the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC). He provided a comprehensive summary of the report’s background and then presented the key findings and recommendations for key actors in Cambodia, highlighting the decrease in physical violence and harassment in election periods but an observed increase in legislative and administrative restrictions. Finally, to provide insights into the Asia Centre’s growth in the region, Dr. James Gomez outlined some of the upcoming projects and initiatives that the Centre has planned for Cambodia, including media advocacy training, digital rights and security programmes, and advocacy activities related to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). After the presentations, opportunities for discussion and questions were provided. Participants actively engaged in open discussion, primarily focused on the declining, weakened state of electoral integrity in the country. The issue of security and safety when operating as an organisation in Cambodia was also discussed, to which Dr. James Gomez explained that Asia Centre’s expertise in the country and the strategic partnerships it has developed with key stakeholders have allowed it to develop trust and a presence in the country. He also emphasised that research and advocacy that has a genuine impact often requires navigating these concerns, which Asia Centre has experience in through expanding its operations into countries throughout the region. After the briefing concluded, a networking session provided participants with an opportunity to connect after the event. The new and existing connections and networks developed through the briefing will support Asia Centre’s Cambodia approach as it commences its operations in the country. If you are interested in partnering with the Asia Centre on projects related to Cambodia or others, please email info@asiacentre.org. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Stronger Collaboration Needed to Strengthen Democracy in Asia
From 14 to 19 March 2024, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez visited Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to speak at three separate panels during which he called for a stronger partnership for democracy in Asia. These panels were either organised or supported by the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) during the week of the 3rd Summit for Democracy 2024. The GDC, convened by International IDEA, and supported by its democracy partners, aims to facilitate dialogue, exchange knowledge, and advocate for democracy, not only during the Summits for Democracy but also champion the democracy agenda at other international and regional gatherings. On 14 March 2024, during the panel discussion “Narratives and Strategies for Democracy in Asia,” organised by the Asia Regional GDC Forum 2024 and held at the East Asia Institute (watch short video), Dr Gomez highlighted the inability of national governments across Asia to uphold democratic values and practices. Instead, he argued that democracy is held down by long-ruling authoritarian elites and their families. To overcome this situation, Dr Gomez suggested joint actions by local, regional, and international NGOs to strengthen the democratic fabric of the region. Similarly, on 15 March during the panel discussion “Youth, Technology, and Democracy: A Regional Perspective” (watch short video), at an event organised by the Global GDC Forum 2024 and held at The Josun Westin, Dr Gomez recommended strengthening the state of democracy in Asia by empowering youth. In particular, he suggested equipping youth with media information literacy skills to navigate the fake news on democracy and human rights put out by authoritarian states and their supporters. On 19 March 2024 at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre, at a panel,“Building Synergy and Intergenerational Solidarity: Asian Political Parties and Civil Society for Democracy (watch short video).” organised by Asia Centre and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Dr. Gomez mooted the idea of establishing a pan-Asian collaboration among CSOs to discuss the state of democracy in the region and to strategise a response. He stressed the importance of bridging the gap and promoting deeper understanding between CSOs and political parties as they share a common democratic agenda. Dr. Gomez’s speeches during the week of the Summit for Democracy were well received and amplified later. For instance, 3 days after the Summit on 24 March 2024, the GDC tweeted that Dr. Gomez emphasised that, “ Discussion intergenerational solidarity between Asia political parties and civil society for democracy” as well as that he said, “States would find the Summit for Democracy hollow without CSO involvement”. On 29 March, a week following the Summit, the South China Morning Post published an interview in Dr. Gomez explained how “information integrity” can be used to counter countries that use “disinformation” as an excuse restricting regulations on speech. Additionally, Gomez urged that the content creators be allowed to provide truthful information “without interference, especially from freedom-repressing governments.” However it was not all speeches and quotes. On the sidelines of the 3rd Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Gomez also had the opportunity to meet and discuss future collaboration with officials from the Korean Democracy Foundation, Asian Democracy Network (ADN Asia) and Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). Overall, Asia Centre is committed to advancing and fostering CSO-to-CSO collaboration for a more democratic future in Asia and beyond. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Fact-Checking Useful, But No Longer Primary Tool Against Disinformation
On 21 March 2024, Asia Centre hosted a virtual panel discussion titled “Fact-Checking: Is it Working?” as part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, jointly organised by Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific. The event attracted over 40 participants, including members of academic institutions, representatives from civil society, lawyers, and independent journalists. Dr James Gomez, the Regional Director of Asia Centre, opened the discussion with insights gained from his recent participation in the 3rd Global Democracy Summit 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. He noted that during the Summit the key concept was “information integrity” and that CSOs were shifting to “information” issues rather than news or media. He also highlighted the discussions at Summit did not consider fact-checking as it was seen as increasingly untenable in the face of overwhelming disinformation everywhere. Dr. Gomez said the seminar was timely as the question of whether fact-checking was working can get us thinking about how better to deal with disinformation. The panel discussion featured speakers such as Gemma Bagayaua Mendoza from Rappler, Harshana Silva from Hashtag Generation, Santi Indra Astuti from MAFINDO, Tanka Aryal from Digital Rights Nepal, and Eric Wishart from AFP. The session was moderated by Lina Sakin Salim from Asia Centre. Gemma Bagayaua Mendoza shared the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, leading to the creation of realistic fake videos and voices. She highlighted instances where Philippine women journalists were manipulated using voice changeovers, presenting manipulated content as authentic evidence. Gemma acknowledged that fact-checking is important but can be limited and stressed the importance of involving everyone within society to combat disinformation, from family and schools to legal authorities and governments. Harshana Silva addressed the diverse landscapes of disinformation problems in Sri Lanka, particularly during elections, and the repercussions faced by citizens due to misinformation. While acknowledging the efficacy of fact-checking, Harshana highlighted the need for more resources and time to reach a wider audience effectively, as fact-checkers are racing against time to combat the rapidly produced disinformation online. Santi Indra Astuti shared insights and statistics from the past 6 years into Indonesia’s experience with misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While fact-checking is widely used in Indonesia, she emphasised the need for holistic approaches beyond fact-checking, focusing on societal engagement and awareness to correct social behaviour towards disinformation. Despite extensive training and awareness efforts, challenges such as attacks on fact-checkers persist. Examples of the challenges that face-checkers face in-country in awareness-raising efforts are connecting with the right audiences and understanding their behaviour. Tanka Aryal discussed the limited scope of fact-checking in Nepal, attributing it to minimal organisational initiatives and low public awareness. He observed that citizens are not aware of fake checking and disinformation because they are unable to filter the information. Tanka noted the public’s preference for sensational misinformation shared in fact pace over genuine information, underscoring the need for education and awareness campaigns. Eric Wishart highlighted AFP’s fact-checking initiatives and their impact through media interactions and standardised protocols. He stressed the importance of transparency among fact-checkers and provided a deeper understanding of fact-checking processes. For him, fact-checking remains a relevant tool for the masses to do digital verification of fake news online. Towards the end of the discussion, all five speakers arrived at the conclusion that fact-checking, while still useful, should not be the primary tool to combat disinformation. They opined that debunking through fact-checking is still reliable and serves as a foundation for preempting similar disinformation. However, they also acknowledged that given the mass proliferation of online disinformation—including resource-intensive personnel requirements, delayed debunking, and inapplicability to digital illiterates—render fact-checking less effective. Hence, other approaches, such as societal engagement, media’s proactive reporting and media literacy training, should be prioritised as primary tools, with fact-checking serving as a supplementary tool. The event concluded with a timely invitation to participants for the next online meeting under the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, titled “Media Information Literacy: CSOs as Changemakers for Digital Empowerment,” scheduled for 16 May 2024. Registration for the session is available here. Apart from Media Information Literacy, other upcoming online sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs will include Surveillance & Privacy, Foreign-Interference, and Artificial-Intelligence. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Asia Centre Hosts Regional Meeting on Digital Rights
CSOs across Asia discussed ideas on how to unite as a collective force to advocate for digital rights, enhance their influence and forge a unified front to respond to legal and technological challenges that impact their work. Convened by Asia Centre with the support of Google, the Regional Meeting on Digital Rights was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 22 to 23 February 2024, the meeting brought together 25 participants and included representatives from Article 19, Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Campaign, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Digital Rights Nepal., DAKILA and Active Vista Center, Hashtag Generation, Indika Foundation, International IDEA, JANIC, Kalyanamitra, The Online Citizen, Open Development Mekong, SAFEnet and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. In his opening remarks, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, said the CSOs present had a unique opportunity to pool their resources and expertise to achieve economies of scale. In particular, he suggested a CSO-to-CSO model of cooperation that could extend the reach of their work while leveraging on their limited resources. On the first day, there were 2 panel discussions and a workshop on online regulations in the Asia-Pacific. The first session, titled “What are CSOs? Do They Need Assistance?”, provided a platform for participants to share their perceptions of CSOs and exchange ideas on economic models that could work to keep their organisations running. It was agreed that CSOs require financial support and access to policymakers and technology companies, while also possessing proficiency and experience in advocating for digital rights. During the second session, “Spotlight: 2024 Indonesian General Election,” participants from Indonesia shared insights from the recent general election, highlighting the pervasive use of digital AI tools by presidential candidates to sway voters. The discussion underscored the need for regulations as well as media literacy to address the proliferation of AI-generated content, including deep fake videos, chatbots, and images, in political campaigns. The pivotal role of platforms and engagement with them was also emphasised. The first day concluded with a presentation of Asia Centre’s latest report, “Online Content Regulations in the Asia-Pacific,” by Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira, Research Manager of Asia Centre. The report examined laws enacted by governments in the region to regulate online content, highlighting their impact on civil society’s ability to hold governments accountable. Subsequent group discussions allowed participants to share country-specific insights and experiences. The second day built on the first day with a session on “Strategies to Address Online Content Regulation.,” During the session, participants deliberated on the legitimacy of restrictive regulations and how negative dimensions of the internet can be mitigated without compromising freedom of expression. Panelists shared success stories of constructive engagement with stakeholders and the implementation of sustainable actions to tackle online challenges. In the closing segment of the second day, participants showcased their organisations’ activities related to digital rights, identifying areas for CSO-to-CSO collaboration and resource exchange. Asia Centre extended invitations for participants to speak at future sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs announced an upcoming digital security training initiative aimed at individuals at risk, including HRDs, their families, and politicians. The upcoming online sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs in 2024 will cover topics on Fact-Checking, Media Information Literacy, Surveillance & Privacy, Foreign-Interference and Artificial-Intelligence. In his closing remarks, Dr.Gomez recognised the support from Google and reiterated that a robust network and concerted efforts among CSOs in the region would enhance their capacity and promote digital rights effectively. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Oxfam Young Leaders Complete Inaugural Fellowship
On 18 February 2024, Asia Centre organised the Project Conclusion Meeting for 8 Oxfam Fellows at the sidelines of the World Social Forum 2024 in Kathmandu, Nepal, held from 15 to 19 February 2024. The meeting, held at the Yellow Pagoda Hotel, was part of the Oxfam Young Leaders Fellowship Programme 2023 which began in June of that year. The Project Conclusion Meeting began with welcoming remarks from John Samuel, Regional Director of Oxfam in Asia who outlined the social challenges awaiting young people. He stressed to the Fellows that even though their projects are concluding, their fight for justice is a lifelong process. The Fellows must remain persistent in creating the world that they wish to see. Thereafter, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, presented some key statistics and milestones of the Fellowship over 9 months. The Fellowship received 471 eligible applications across Asia, and after several rounds of selection, 8 Fellows from 6 countries were announced. As a cohort, they delivered 9 videos, 3 publications 6 podcast episodes 8 town halls. They were able to reach a total of 24 milestones, 100 deliverables and more than 2,525 beneficiaries. Following the presentation was the public exhibition. The Fellows had the opportunity to showcase their projects and success stories, using promotional materials such as posters, banners, stickers and videos. The projects that were exhibited are as follows: Atypical Dikkatein by Soumya Mishra, Climate Actioneers by Lamia Mohsin, Gen-Z Talk Timor-Leste by Ricardo Araujo, Inclusive Lens by Wajid Zahid, Keep the Change by Gerald Guillermo, LawHum by Chikita Marpaung, Project Habi Pilipinas by Ellenor Bartolome and Writing on Rights by Sanjana Chettri. The exhibition visitors were participants from the World Social Forum and included visitors from Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Africa. There was a closed-door Roundtable Feedback Discussion following the exhibition, where the Fellows shared their self-evaluation of project objectives, implementation challenges, and learnings. There was also discussion on how to strengthen the recruitment of future Fellows, including a focus on those who are not working full-time, from non-privileged backgrounds, and ensuring gender balance. Future engagements to maintain connections after the Fellowship Programme, included setting up an alumni network, mentoring the next cohort of Oxfam Fellows and continued submissions to civicasia.org portal. While the project conclusion meeting was the main focus, the Fellows also actively participated in the activities of the World Social Forum. On the first day of the Forum, the Fellows participated in the Solidarity March around Kathmandu to show solidarity with those oppressed by CSOs. On the second day, the Fellows joined the “Thematic Assembly on Economic Inequality & Justice.” On the third day, the Fellows spoke at the Inter-Continental Youth Forum. On the fourth day of the Forum, Asia Centre held the Project Induction Meeting for the Oxfam Fellows at Yellow Pagoda Hotel in Kathmandu. On the fifth and final day, the Fellows drafted the Civil Society Statement for a just and equitable world and invited participants to sign on the banner during the closing ceremony. With the conclusion of the inaugural batch of the Oxfam Young Leaders, Asia Centre will announce in April 2024 applications for the second cohort of Oxfam Young Leaders Fellowship Programme. Keep a lookout on Asia Centre’s social media pages and website. To watch the highlights of the Fellows’ participation in the Project Conclusion Meeting and the World Social Forum, click: https://bit.ly/3OQHI3x Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you are interested in a partnership with Asia Centre to research China’s influence in the region, send an email to info@asiacentre.org. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Asia Centre hosts inaugural discussion on China’s global influence
To inform Asia Centre’s research on democracy and human rights, the Centre hosted its inaugural roundtable discussion on “China’s Global Influence: Perspective from the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific” on 1 February 2024. As an inaugural meeting, the aim was to examine and discuss the different perspectives on China’s influence in the regions. The meeting examined the potential opportunities and conflicts associated with China’s growing economic and political influence, particularly in Southeast Asia and Europe. The event was held in collaboration with Sinopsis, a project implemented by the non-profit association AcaMedia, in scholarly collaboration with the Department of Sinology at Charles University in Prague. The roundtable convened 18 participants from the Asia Centre, Sinopsis, diplomatic missions, independent media, CSOs focusing on China, and academics at the Asia Centre’s Meeting Hub in Bangkok. The event began with the opening remarks given, first, by Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre. He outlined how China’s global influence is relevant to Asia Centre’s broad suite of research on democracy and human rights, as well as ongoing concerns around shrinking civic spaces across countries. Then, Dr Martin Hála, Founder and Director of Sinopsis, underscored how China’s rapid economic development and influence across different regions worldwide significantly impact national policies and narratives. The first panel, titled “China’s Impact in the Euro-Atlantic with Special Emphasis on Europe,” was presented by Sinopsis. First, Kateřina Procházková, Researcher and Outreach Coordinator at Sinopsis, introduced the organisation, a research project focused on scrutinising China’s global influence. She highlighted the group’s dedication to exploring the multifaceted impacts of China’s policies. Comprised of a group of sinologists, Sinopsis has published over 1,700 articles on the subject. Dr Martin Hála, Director and Founder of Asia Centre, followed by emphasising that due to the historical homogeneity of Eastern Europe and the Czech Republic, there exists varying narratives and expectations of China in the region. As China’s influence grew, Eastern EU policy shifted direction to a focus on managing the presence of China in the region, which was accompanied by unrealistic efforts and expectations. He also elaborated on Sinopsis’ organisational objective to rectify some of the narratives in the region stemming from a lack of information and understanding. Bao Do, Researcher and Analyst at Sinopsis, expanded on the previous points by outlining the overall lack of understanding of Chinese policies and developments, and Sinology’s role in examining the consequences and international perspectives that stem from these developments. He also stressed the importance of the sensitivities and mindfulness required when engaging with Chinese government officials, organisational representatives, and members of the Chinese public. The second panel titled “China’s Influence in Indo-Pacific with Special Emphasis on Southeast Asia’s Media Landscape” was presented by the Asia Centre research team. Each panellist analysed China’s influence through the media sector in one specific country in the region. Dr Marc Piñol Rovira, Research Manager at the Asia Centre, provided an analysis of Cambodia. The country has historically had strong political connections with Beijing. These connections remain robust, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet. In a strategic move to enhance its geopolitical influence in the region, China has been actively leveraging the media sector to shape a favourable public opinion. Dr Pinol Rovira explained that China employs various strategies to strengthen its grip on the media landscape in Cambodia, such as forging partnerships with local media outlets, increasing the presence of Chinese media entities within the country, providing assistance for the development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and sponsoring media training programs for journalists. Yawee Butrkrawee, Senior Researcher at Asia Centre, followed by detailing the situation in Thailand. China utilises some key legal provisions like the Thailand Constitution and the Broadcasting and Television Business Act 2008 to increase its influence in Thailand’s media, as seen when Thai nationals are prohibited from owning media outlets, Chinese organisations register subsidiaries in Thailand and get Thai nationals to become registered subsidiaries. He then outlined other strategies that China utilises to influence the media sector, such as the signing of corporation MOUs between government departments and Chinese media groups. Then, Kyi Thar Phone Myint, Researcher at Asia Centre, delved into Myanmar’s case to demonstrate China’s influence in the region. China’s influence in Myanmar is observed primarily through investment and influence in the expansion of information technology, software, and media in Myanmar. This includes strategies utilised by China, such as identifying and leveraging market availability throughout the growth of technology and media in Myanmar. Post the 2021 Myanmar coup, there have been complex media relations between China and the Myanmar Junta, with China reportedly siding with the Myanmar Junta in the Myanmar civil war. He finally spoke about the powerful influence of the Chinese-owned company Tiktok, and its use of young people and women in influencing media in Myanmar. Finally, Ekmongkhon Puridej, Researcher at Asia Centre, presented an overview of the media landscape in Singapore. Notably, Singapore has a distinctive position within Southeast Asia, as it stands out as one of the few countries with an overall positive perception of China. Emphasising the significance of comprehending these dynamics, he delved into the complexities of Chinese influence in Singapore, such as China’s involvement in developing and forming Singapore and its geo-political moves to counter the dominant US influence. Furthermore, he offered a specific example of Chinese leverage within the media landscape, where Chinese newspapers published in Singapore are bound by Chinese laws, raising potential concerns about censorship and the promotion of biased narratives. After the conclusion of the two panels, participants actively engaged in an open discussion, focusing on the overarching theme of the limited research and understanding concerning the growing Chinese influence in the Southeast Asia region, with Laos serving as a notable example. Additionally, a networking session provided participants with an opportunity to connect after the event. The insights on China’s global influence gleaned from this inaugural roundtable discussion will inform Asia Centre’s research on democracy and human rights moving forward. A key takeaway is how Chinese influence impacts the political