Disinformation and Misinformation in Election Campaigns in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward

MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY PROGRAMME

About the Hybrid Seminar

This hybrid seminar explores comparative perspectives on how social media and various digital technologies were exploited across multiple election campaigns across Southeast Asia. Despite the wide use of online political ads in election campaigns worldwide in the past decade, regulations on online political ads are still very fragmented, with social media and other online platforms operating with different transparency standards in different countries.

Moreover, the emerging role of generative AI and deep fakes in election campaigns may also lead to voters becoming more vulnerable to mis/disinformation disseminated by various actors. Indonesia’s presidential elections in February this year became an experimentation ground for the effectiveness of generative AI and deepfakes in election campaigns. Variations in campaign strategies and monitoring mechanisms will likely affect the election outcomes and beyond.

To explore these topics, this seminar aims to gather relevant experts to discuss how the electoral integrity of future elections in Southeast Asia can be protected. The seminar’s open plenary sessions will feature scholars and practitioners working in Southeast Asia’s media and information space. The speakers will address the information ecosystem, trends and developments in creating and disseminating mis/disinformation and counter-mechanisms against it. The plenary sessions will conclude with a discussion on government and societal responses to dis/misinformation – including regulatory measures and bottom-up efforts to deal with fake news.

About the Speaker

Panel 1: Online Political Campaigning: Information Operations and Their Impact (9.15 am – 10.45 am)

Speakers: Mr Noudhy Valdryno, Dr Aries Arugay, Dr Surachanee Sriyai

Panel 2: Evolving Technologies and Their Impact on the Electoral Information Space (11.00 am – 12.30 pm)

Speakers: Dr Maria Monica Wihardja, Dr Nuurrianti Jalli, Dr Surachanee Sriyai, Ms Julia Voo

Panel 3: Reality Checks: Challenges and Limitations of Existing Approaches to Counter Mis/Disinformation in Elections (1.30 pm – 3.00 pm)

Speakers: Dr Masato Kajimoto, Dr Benjamin Loh, Mr Beltsazar Krisetya, Ms Meg Chang

Registration

This is a hybrid event which will be held at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS).

Attending the Event In-person at ISEAS

To join the event in-person at ISEAS, please register via the ISEAS mobile app, available on iOS and Android via the Apple or Play store. Search “ISEAS” to find or scan this QR code.

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Seating capacity is limited. Do register early to avoid disappointment.

Attending the Event Virtually via Webinar

To join the event virtually at the specified date and time using your internet devices, please register here to receive your unique login link for the webinar via the zoom platform.

If you have questions for the speaker, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.