Press Release – AICHR-EU Dialogue on Disinformation and Misinformation
Singapore, 29 January 2024 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), convened a dialogue on disinformation and misinformation in Singapore on 29 January 2024.
The Dialogue consisted of panels aimed at sharing experiences on the impact of disinformation and misinformation, including on the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN and the EU. The panellists presented different approaches to counter disinformation and misinformation, with a view towards broadening the regional discussion and ASEAN-EU collaboration on promoting human rights, tolerance and cohesion. The Dialogue contributed to fostering a shared understanding of the global challenge of disinformation and misinformation and discuss ways of tackling the challenge in full respect of human rights.
Disinformation and misinformation are among the biggest challenges facing societies all over the world today. Notwithstanding the positive impact of receiving and sharing information and ideas through the media, and online exchange of ideas and viewpoints, it is also crucial to ensure that all perspectives are presented, based on verifiable facts, to prevent growing social intolerance and polarisation at individual and group levels.
The Dialogue brought together over 50 key stakeholders, including representatives of AICHR, the EU, the ASEAN Secretariat, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), private sector, academia, media and policy researchers. Panellists from Singapore and ASEAN Member States shared on the threats disinformation and misinformation pose to societies today and the legislative and non-legislative measures that have been introduced by governments in Southeast Asia to combat these threats. Experts from the EU and European institutions shared insights and the EU’s experience in “identifying, preventing and countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)” with a multi-layered approach and in full respect of the right to freedom of expression and access to information, notably by developing an EU FIMI Toolbox. They also shared two key achievements in the area of regulation with the adoption of the Digital Services Act and the Code of Practice on Disinformation.
The Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027) seeks to strengthen cooperation on countering misinformation and disinformation. It also seeks to strengthen the cooperation between AICHR and the EU through training, regional dialogues, awareness raising activities, exchange of best practices and other capacity-building initiatives. This Dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders in ASEAN and the EU delivers on the AICHR interest and request made during the EU-ASEAN Policy Dialogues on Human Rights and will serve to enhance the overall ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights.
The Dialogue was hosted by AICHR Singapore in cooperation with the EU Delegation to ASEAN and supported by the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI).