| APrIGF 2024 Session Proposal Submission Form | |||||||||||||
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| Part 1 - Lead Organizer | |||||||||||||
| Contact Person | |||||||||||||
| Mr. Beltsazar Krisetya | |||||||||||||
| Organization / Affiliation (Please state "Individual" if appropriate) * | |||||||||||||
| Safer Internet Lab at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies | |||||||||||||
| Designation | |||||||||||||
| Principal Researcher of Safer Internet Lab at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia | |||||||||||||
| Gender | |||||||||||||
| Male | |||||||||||||
| Economy of Residence | |||||||||||||
| Indonesia | |||||||||||||
| Primary Stakeholder Group | |||||||||||||
| Civil Society | |||||||||||||
| List Your Organizing Partners (if any) | |||||||||||||
| Shita Laksmi, Southeast Representative for Diplo Foundation. (Email: shital@diplomacy.edu) Jean-Jacques Sahel, Asia-Pacific Information Policy Lead for Google Asia Pacific. (Email: jjsahel@google.com) Jonathan Tan Ghee Tiong, Head of Culture and Information Division at the ASEAN Secretariat. (Email: tanghee.tiong@asean.org) |
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| Part 2 - Session Proposal | |||||||||||||
| Session Title | |||||||||||||
| Charting the Path for a Regional Fact-Checking Coalition in the Asia-Pacific | |||||||||||||
| Session Format | |||||||||||||
| Panel Discussion (60 minutes) | |||||||||||||
| Where do you plan to organize your session? | |||||||||||||
| Onsite at the venue (with online moderator for questions and comments from remote participants) | |||||||||||||
| Specific Issues for Discussion | |||||||||||||
| The session will discuss how an Asia-Pacific regional coalition can tackle existing and emerging challenges in information disorder and fact-checking endeavors. Fact-checking stands as a strategic solution in countering the widespread dissemination of misinformation and disinformation, with 424 active fact-checking websites globally (The Duke Reporter’s Lab, 2016). Various entities engage in fact-checking, ranging from independent organizations, news media, universities to government actors, forming diverse coalitions for ongoing collaboration. A policy brief will be presented in the session to serve as a focal point for discussion. This brief outlines ongoing challenges in fact-checking efforts within the Asia-Pacific region and evaluates how a regional coalition could address these issues. The session will explore the viability, as well as usefulness and purpose of establishing a regional fact-checking coalition to effectively counter disinformation within the Asia-Pacific region. The discussion session will especially serve as a platform for diverse stakeholders to deliberate and identify key principles fundamental to fact-checking efforts. This process will establish a shared understanding among fact-checkers in the region, a primary function of a regional coalition. These principles may include, but are not limited to, transparency, accountability, balancing between speed and accuracy, independence, and impartiality. Furthermore, discussions will center on how such a coalition could confront the evolving strategies of disinformation, address disparities in fact-checking skills among practitioners, and navigate the increasingly lucrative and robust business models behind industrialized disinformation. Additionally, the brief and ensuing discussions will acknowledge that while a regional coalition holds promise, it may not offer a panacea to all challenges faced in this domain. After the session, follow-up discussions among interested participants will be held. |
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| Describe the Relevance of Your Session to APrIGF | |||||||||||||
| Our session emphasizes the importance of implementing resilient safeguarding principles in multi-stakeholder initiatives amidst the constantly evolving digital landscape. We specifically address the threat to information integrity caused by the misuse of digital tools and digitalization. Our focus is on combating the widespread dissemination of information disorder, which poses a great global threat by influencing, and furthermore, manipulating public opinion. Our discussion aligns with the thematic tract of “Security & Trust,” aiming to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions to protect information integrity. As one of the most robust and prevalent first-response strategies in combating information disorder, fact-checking initiatives serve two primary functions; neutering false information and promoting factual information. This discussion aims to delve into how ongoing initiatives can elevate their role of promoting factual information, rather than solely focusing on debunking false information. We seek to explore ways in which fact-checking initiatives can expand, evolve, and become more effective, as well as sustainable. We discuss the feasibility of the establishment of an Asia-Pacific fact-checking coalition as a regional solution to supplement initiatives on the global level. This session will especially facilitate discussion among a multitude of relevant stakeholders to develop a set of key fundamental principles of fact-checking in the region. These key principles will serve as the cornerstone for fact-checkers to follow, including principles of transparency, accountability, balance between speed and accuracy, independence, and impartiality. To articulate this vision, we believe that APrIGF provides the ideal platform for this exchange, where four institutions operating in the Asia-Pacific region–CSIS, Diplo Foundation, Google APAC, and the ASEAN Secretariat–will convene to thoroughly discuss the feasibility of this endeavor. |
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| Methodology / Agenda (Please add rows by clicking "+" on the right) | |||||||||||||
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| Moderators & Speakers Info (Please complete where possible) | |||||||||||||
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| Please explain the rationale for choosing each of the above contributors to the session. | |||||||||||||
| The session we have designed features a diverse array of speakers from various sectors to reflect the multi-stakeholder approach of the fact-checking landscape. Our speakers include experts from the Japan Fact-check Center (JFC) and Rappler, representatives from Google, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Internews. This variety aims to capture multiple perspectives on building a regional coalition for effective fact-checking. Our panel includes Daisuke Furuta from JFC, an independent organization under The Safer Internet Association, which promotes Internet safety. Daisuke, a seasoned journalist and Google News Lab Teaching Fellow, focuses on training in digital reporting. Gemma B. Mendoza of Rappler leads initiatives against disinformation through data analysis and community engagement. From ASEAN, Jonathan Tan Ghee Tiong is head of the Culture and Information Division, directly corresponds with AMRI (ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information) and SOMRI (Senior Officials’ Meeting Responsible for Information and Media) in the publishing of the ASEAN guideline on management of government information in combating fake news and disinformation in the media. Jean-Jacques Sahel, Asia-Pacific Information Policy Lead at Google, is also the Director of International Institute of Communications, has been involved in international government and regulatory affairs for over 15 years and been active in the global IGF community since its creation at WSIS in 2005. Brian D. Hanley, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific Programs in Internews leads extensive media development programs across Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining Internews, he served as a Senior Democracy and governance Field Advisor in USAID’s Center for Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance. Shita Laksmi, representing Diplo Foundation in Southeast Asia and with two decades of experience in tech and internet governance, will moderate the discussion. She has significant involvement in Indonesia's ICT sector and advises the Asia Pacific School of Internet Governance. Ratna Aini Hadi of the Safer Internet Lab (SAIL), and primary author of the presented policy brief, will act as the secondary moderator. SAIL, a partnership between the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and Google Indonesia, endeavors to function as a central hub, coordinating diverse interests among stakeholders and developing mutual understanding on disinformation issues, notably focusing on fact-checking efforts. SAIL consistently conducts research on the experience of disinformation and strategies for combating them, with a particular emphasis on fact-checking as a primary countermeasure. |
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| Please declare if you have any potential conflict of interest with the Program Committee 2024. | |||||||||||||
| No | |||||||||||||
| Are you or other session contributors planning to apply for the APrIGF Fellowship Program 2024? | |||||||||||||
| No | |||||||||||||
| APrIGF offers live transcript in English for all sessions. Do you need any other translation support or any disability related requests for your session? APrIGF makes every effort to be a fully inclusive and accessible event, and will do the best to fulfill your needs. | |||||||||||||
| We would appreciate access to a Sign Language Interpreter for the session. | |||||||||||||
| Brief Summary of Your Session | |||||||||||||
| The session began with a brief opening greeting from Medelina Hendytio, Deputy Executive Director for Operations at CSIS Indonesia. This was followed by an introduction to the Safer Internet Lab (SAIL) project and a presentation of the policy brief by Beltsazar Krisetya, SAIL’s principal researcher at CSIS. The policy brief was the central focus of the discussion and was subsequently analyzed by a panel of experts: Shita Laksmi, Jean-Jacques, Eve Chiu, and Ellen Tordesillas, each drawing on their areas of expertise. The discussion highlighted the importance of forming an Asia-Pacific regional fact-checking coalition, addressing key considerations for establishing such a coalition. Three online discussants—Ratna Aini Hadi, Daisuke Furuta, and Rajneil Kammath—also participated, further enriching the conversation. The session concluded with questions from participants and closing remarks from the moderator. - The discussed policy brief: sail.ink/factcheckcoalition - Report launching: Human Rights in the age of disinformation: a case study analysis https://www.diplomacy.edu/event/human-rights-in-the-age-of-disinformation-a-case-study-analysis/. This report was developed with support of the project “Info Trust Alliance”, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by GIZ Moldova. |
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| Substantive Summary of the Key Issues Raised and the Discussion | |||||||||||||
| The session highlighted the roles of fact-checking initiatives, the importance of forming a regional coalition, and key considerations for establishing one. The panel from various fact-checking organizations provided updates, noting that the Asia-Pacific regional fact-checking coalition is being formed, with a steering committee in place and activities about to launch. Shita Laksmi from the Diplo Foundation shared that internet governance involves processes with many stakeholders. Fact-checking initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region are excellent examples of how broad participation enhances detection and response efforts to combat information disorder. She also stressed the need for continuous dialogue among stakeholders, asserting that a whole-of-society approach is crucial for safeguarding human rights principles. Jean-Jacques from Google echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that fact-checking initiatives are vital for raising awareness, empowering users, and informing platforms about factual information. While announcing the formation of the Asia-Pacific regional fact-checking coalition, Eve Chiu from the Taiwan Fact-Check Center identified three key factors for building a strong and sustainable coalition: leadership, addressing common challenges, and financial support. Ellen Tordesillas from VERAfiles added that a commitment to truthfulness and the establishment of a neutral and competent secretariat to coordinate among coalition members are essential for both building the coalition and combating information disorder. She explained that a shared definition of truthfulness will determine which fact-checking organizations can join the coalition, as differing definitions could lead to propagandistic influences. Adding to Eve's update, Daisuke Furuta from the Japan Fact-Check Center shared insights into the coalition's formation process, from its ideation to its current stage. He and a few other volunteers initiated the discussion on forming the coalition at the APAC Trusted Media Summit in December 2023. He also explained that while regions like Europe and Africa already have established coalitions contributing to global discussions, the Asia-Pacific region lacks such a unified presence. The delay in forming a regional network in Asia-Pacific compared to other regions is largely due to the region's vastness and the incredible diversity among its countries. Joining the session online, Ratna Aini Hadi, the policy brief author, expressed her support for the formation of the coalition. She also emphasized the need to preserve the diversity of fact-checking initiatives in the region and suggested that establishing common principles within the coalition could be a starting point. Finally, Rajneil Kammath from the Misinformation Combat Alliance shared his experiences managing a fact-checking coalition. He highlighted the importance of mutual trust among members and confidence in the leadership steering the coalition. |
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| Conclusions and Suggestions of Way Forward | |||||||||||||
| Conclusion: Fact-checking initiatives are one of the crucial methods for combating information disorder, though there are other effective approaches as well. Additionally, forming a regional coalition is essential for addressing the challenges faced by these initiatives and for representing the collective voice of the Asia-Pacific region on the global stage. However, given the diversity within the fact-checking landscape and the region itself, the coalition must accommodate these diversities while striving to unify the region's voice. Suggestions for Way Forward: When building the coalition, it is important to: - Establish a neutral and competent secretariat. - Ensure all members address the same challenges. - Secure financial support. - Foster a commitment to truthfulness as the antidote to misinformation. - Maintain unity while preserving the diversity of fact-checking initiatives in the region. |
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| Number of Attendees (Please fill in numbers) | |||||||||||||
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| Gender Balance in Moderators/Speakers (Please fill in numbers) | |||||||||||||
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| How were gender perspectives, equality, inclusion or empowerment discussed? Please provide details and context. | |||||||||||||
| The session indirectly addressed inclusion and empowerment by discussing the importance of forming a regional coalition. It was noted that the Asia-Pacific regional coalition could effectively represent the region and amplify the voices of those who are often unheard. This collective voice could then be presented in global-level discussions. For example, the Asia-Pacific regional fact-checking coalition could highlight regional issues, such as disinformation about the South China Sea, at international forums like the IFCN. | |||||||||||||
| Consent | |||||||||||||
 I agree that my data can be submitted to forms.for.asia and processed by APrIGF organizers for the program selection of APrIGF 2024. |
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