Proposal

APrIGF 2026 Session Proposal Submission Form
Part 1 - Lead Organizer
Contact Person
Ms. Catherine Setiawan
Email
Organization / Affiliation (Please state "Individual" if appropriate) *
Jakarta
Designation
Project Coordinator
Gender
Female
Economy of Residence
Indonesia
Stakeholder Group
Academia
Part 2 - Session Proposal
Session Title
Governing Generative AI in Southeast Asia: Addressing Electoral Manipulation and Political Campaign Risks
Thematic Track of Your Session

  • Option

    • Primary: AI Governance for Good
    • Secondary: Digital Resilience and Building of Trust
Session Format
Panel Discussion (60 minutes)
Where do you plan to organize your session?
Hybrid (with onsite moderator and speakers both online and offline, with online moderator for questions and comments from remote participants)
Specific Issues for Discussion
Generative AI is rapidly transforming political communication in Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities for civic engagement while also amplifying risks such as AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes, synthetic media, and micro targeted political messaging that can undermine electoral integrity and public trust. As several Southeast Asian countries have recently held or are preparing for national elections, policymakers face growing pressure to develop governance frameworks that protect democratic processes without stifling innovation.

This panel will examine the emerging governance challenges posed by generative AI in political campaigns and elections across Southeast Asia. With multiple elections and rising geopolitical tensions in the region, the 2026–2028 period is critical for establishing governance mechanisms to detect, label, and regulate synthetic content.

Speakers will discuss regional experiences with AI-enabled electoral manipulation, the adequacy of existing legal and regulatory frameworks, the roles of governments, electoral management bodies, technology companies, civil society, and academia, and opportunities for regional cooperation through ASEAN. The session will also explore practical policy recommendations for developing responsible AI governance that promotes transparency, accountability, electoral integrity, and democratic resilience while supporting innovation in the region.
Describe the Relevance of Your Session to APrIGF
The rapid adoption of generative AI in political communication presents significant challenges to a resilient and trustworthy Internet, particularly during elections and periods of political uncertainty. AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes, and coordinated influence campaigns can erode public trust, undermine democratic institutions, and weaken the integrity of online information ecosystems. These risks are especially relevant to Asia-Pacific countries, where digital platforms play a central role in political participation and where AI governance frameworks remain at different stages of development.

This session directly contributes to the "AI Governance for Good" sub-theme by examining how governments, election management bodies, technology companies, civil society, and academia can collaborate to develop governance approaches that promote transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of generative AI. It also supports the overarching theme, "Safeguarding a Resilient Internet in Times of Crisis," by exploring policies and multistakeholder responses that strengthen electoral integrity and public trust while preserving an open, secure, and innovative Internet.

The discussion is expected to generate practical recommendations for AI governance in Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, identify opportunities for regional cooperation through multi-stakeholder dialogue, and contribute to policy approaches that balance innovation with the protection of democratic processes and fundamental rights.
Methodology / Agenda (Please add rows by clicking "+" on the right)
Time frame (e.g. 5 minutes, 20 minutes, should add up to the time limit of your selected session format) Description
5 minutes Opening and Introduction: The moderator welcomes participants, introduces the session objectives, speakers, and outlines the discussion format, highlighting its relevance to APrIGF 2026.
5 Minutes The moderator provides a brief overview of the growing use of generative AI in political campaigns, emerging risks to electoral integrity, and the current AI governance landscape in Southeast Asia.
30 minutes Panel discussions (each speaker speak for max 7 minutes): perspectives on AI-enabled electoral manipulation, regulatory approaches, the roles of governments, technology companies, civil society, and regional cooperation to promote responsible AI governance.
15 Minutes Audience Q&A and Interactive Discussion
5 Mins Key takeaways and closing: summarizes the main discussion points, highlights emerging policy recommendations and opportunities for multistakeholder collaboration, and thanks the speakers and participants.
Moderators & Speakers Info (Please complete where possible) - (Required)

  • Moderator (Primary)

    • Name: Catherine Setiawan
    • Organization: SAIL
    • Designation: Project Coordinator
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Indonesia
    • Stakeholder Group: Civil Society
    • Expected Presence: In-person
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Moderator (Facilitator)

    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Speaker 1

    • Name: Arya Fernandes
    • Organization: CSIS
    • Designation: Head of Department of Politics and Social Change at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
    • Gender: Male
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Indonesia
    • Stakeholder Group: Academia
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Speaker 2

    • Name: Dr Karryl Sagun-Trajano
    • Organization: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
    • Designation: Research Fellow
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Singapore
    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Speaker 3

    • Name: Dr Nuurrianti Jalli
    • Organization: Oklahoma State University
    • Designation: Assistant Professor
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Malaysia
    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Speaker 4

    • Name: Pattharapong Rattanasevee
    • Organization: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Thailand.
    • Designation: Lecturer
    • Gender: Male
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Thailand
    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One

  • Speaker 5

    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One
Please explain the rationale for choosing each of the above contributors to the session.
All speakers are experts in elections and political campaigns, as well as have published writings and publications on the topics of the use of AI for electoral campaign.
Has AI been used to develop this proposal?
Yes
How:
Check grammar
Please declare if you have any potential conflict of interest with the Program Committee 2026.
No
Are you or other session contributors planning to apply for the APrIGF Fellowship Program 2026?
Yes
Upon evaluation by the Program Committee, your session proposal may only be selected under the condition that you will accept the suggestion of merging with another proposal with similar topics. Please state your preference below:
Yes, I am willing to work with another session proposer on a suggested merger.
Number of Attendees (Please fill in numbers)
    Gender Balance in Moderators/Speakers (Please fill in numbers)
      Consent
      I agree that my data can be submitted to forms.for.asia and processed by APrIGF organizers for the program selection of APrIGF 2026.