THE 16th Conference of Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (Amri), which ended today, endorsed the “Guidelines on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation in the Media”.

A joint media statement released at the end of the event said the guidelines initiated by Indonesia sought to provide a framework on how governments can respond to false or misleading information being disseminated in the media or on social media platforms.

The guidelines also sought to establish standards and good practices for government information officers to promote accuracy and reliability; improve transparency and accountability in government communications; improve coordination and collaboration between government agencies; and ensure government communications are transparent and accountable.

Amri urged the Asean Task Force on Fake News that was established in 2019 to keep abreast of digital developments that could exacerbate online abuse and divide societies, and work on strengthening the promotion of cyber wellness and literacy, as well as improving the efficiency in detection and response.

“To this end, the meeting underscored the need to better develop and adopt evidence-based research and approaches that could enhance policymaking in dealing with the deleterious impact of these cyber threats,” said the statement.

Amri urged the media and information sector to be more resilient and responsive amid the fast-changing information landscape.

It said the media and information sector should become an active channel through which to promote digital awareness and literacy for Asean citizens, as growing influence of new and social media may have the potential to cause public concerns and drive discussion on social issues.

The conference supported the Da Nang Declaration titled “Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive Asean”, which recognised the pivotal role of media in various areas such as contributing to the goal of a knowledge-empowered citizenry.

Besides Asean members, the four-day meeting at Furama Resort in Da Nang was attended by China, Japan and South Korea, as well as Timor Leste as an observer.

The Malaysian delegation, led by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, included Communications and Digital Ministry secretary-general Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and the Information Department’s Media and Corporate Communications Division director E. Sivabalan.

Bernama deputy editor-in-chief (news service) Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and senior government officials were also part of the delegation.

Fahmi, when met after Amri, said the meeting fostered deeper cooperation among Asean countries and led to closer collaboration in combating fake news and disinformation. – Bernama, September 23, 2023.