Disinformation and Discourse: Rebuilding Trust in Institutions, Platforms, and Civic Spaces

The Digital Asia Hub convened a symposium on the topic of Disinformation & Discourse: Rebuilding Trust in Institutions, Platforms, & Civic Spaces on 21 August, 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together over 50 subject matter experts from all over Asia and the world, across academia, industry, government, and civil society.

The day was kicked off by an address by David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and a keynote by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schultz, Research Director, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet & Society & Director, Hans-Bredow-Institute for Media Research, Hamburg University, on Fighting Disinformation Online: Legal Approaches in Europe & Beyond”.

The structure of the symposium was based on three broad tracks: Framing the problem definitions, mapping APAC responses, and exploring the solution set. Countries across Asia are all feeling the platform amplification effect of fake news and disinformation on local politics, elections, relations between ethnic groups. Towards identifying the diversity of challenges that different countries in the region are be facing and importantly finding solutions, we held panel discussions on mapping the global disinformation landscape; governance, regulations, and policy interventions; polarisation, hate, and public discourse; platforms, publics, and policies; and creative solutions via art, civil society, and media. In between panel discussions we featured lightening talk addresses from media practitioners and academics from the region offering quick takes and solutions.

Associate Fellow @MalJayaram on perceptions of disinformation in Asia: “The world is just catching up, [Asia has] been doing this for years. You really want to know how to do misinformation, [they’re] the experts.” | @digitalasiahub, @BKCHarvard & @CHAsiaPacific event in Jakarta. pic.twitter.com/odCJfA88QS

— Chatham House Asia-Pacific (@CHAsiaPacific) August 30, 2018

 

How do you combat #FakeNews and disinformation once it has already gone viral?
– Senior Research Fellow @carolsoon from @LKYSch on the importance of preventative & multi-stakeholder responses to disinformation at @DigitalAsiaHub, @BKCHarvard & @CHAsiaPacific conference. pic.twitter.com/fE8EzTdPWS

— Chatham House Asia-Pacific (@CHAsiaPacific) August 31, 2018

The symposium was held in collaboration with Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, and the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House.

The symposium was off-the-record and observed Chatham House rules of non-attribution.

If you are interested in collaborating with Digital Asia Hub to host an event, or inviting its Executive Director as a speaker, please email Dev Lewis.

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