Phnom Penh:Cambodia has issued a call for strengthened regional cooperation among ASEAN Member States, media organizations, and technology platforms to combat disinformation and address challenges posed by synthetic media. This call aims to ensure that digital innovation aligns with freedom of expression and access to information.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the call was made by Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra at the 'ASEAN Multistakeholder Symposium on Mitigating Disinformation and Managing Synthetic Media in the Digital Era' held in Phnom Penh. The event saw participation from H.E. Ms. Silke Röfer, Ambassador of Germany to Cambodia, and Mr. Reto Grninger, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency in Cambodia, along with representatives from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra, serving as Vice Chair of the 17th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), highlighted the rapid spread of false information and the complexities introduced by advances in generative AI. He emphasized the need for ASEAN to promote responsible innovation and strengthen the capacity to identify and respond to harmful deception, while balancing freedom of expression and access to information.

The Minister outlined Cambodia's initiatives, such as the "Say No to Fake News" campaign, to enhance media professionalism and literacy. He proposed four priorities for ASEAN cooperation improving access to reliable information, advancing media literacy, engaging digital platforms, and developing mechanisms for sustained regional cooperation.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra also stressed the importance of collaboration with technology companies to understand ASEAN's diversity and improve content-reporting mechanisms. He underscored existing ASEAN mechanisms like AMRI and the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News as vital for regional collaboration and reiterated his commitment to advancing these efforts as incoming Chair of the 18th AMRI in 2027.

The symposium facilitated the exchange of experiences among policymakers, media professionals, and technology partners, aiming to formulate practical recommendations and establish research priorities for ASEAN's needs. The Minister expressed gratitude to the ASEAN Secretariat, the German Federal Foreign Office, GIZ, and Switzerland for their support in organizing the symposium.