EngageMedia’s Post

Regulatory trends in #SouthAsia, in the upcoming #DRAPAC series:

In South Asia, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh have been witnessing major regulatory and policy debates on social media regulation for the past few years. Learn more about the regulatory trends in this region in the upcoming DRAPAC Series session on November 26! Learn more and send your advance questions: https://lnkd.in/gSUkQQhU

I’m glad to share my recent publication entitled: "Digital transformation on the design and implementation of virtual political campaigns in Kuwait: perceptions and attitudes of politicians and campaign managers for bold innovation and social impact in Kuwait" https://lnkd.in/dfJ3i_tm

The Northeast India Public Policy Forum (NEIPPF) hosted a virtual panel discussion titled "Northeast India as a Gateway to Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges under the Act East Policy" on October 20, 2024, moderated by Mr. Nava B., Founder of NEIPPF. The panel featured seasoned experts, including Mr. NC Bipindra, a lawyer and senior journalist; Ms. Neha Mehra, a board member of FIEO; Mr. Mohd Ujaley, a senior journalist and infrastructure and governance specialist; Mr. Abhijit Pegu, founder of blockchain startup LW3; and Mr. Sheikh Razaul Islam, Co-Founder of Web3 Assam. Mr. Bipindra NC highlighted the geopolitical significance of Northeast India, emphasising the threats posed by Chinese territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and the potential for military conflict. He raised concerns about environmental risks from China’s dam projects on the Brahmaputra River and illegal immigration from Bangladesh, exacerbated by sea erosion. Mr. Mohd Ujaley stressed the importance of infrastructure development, citing projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, and advocated for policies supporting local businesses, SEZs, and skill development. Ms. Neha K Mehra highlighted Northeast India's logistical challenges, including its landlocked geography and poor electronic ports. She urged urgent infrastructure improvements and tailored policies for better trade integration. Mr. Abhijit Pegu introduced his blockchain startup, LW3, discussing how technology could enhance governance and transparency in the region, while Mr. Sheikh Razaul Islam emphasized the importance of IT governance and innovation in driving regional development. The discussion concluded with a recognition of the need for political stability in neighbouring countries to enhance regional cooperation and realise Northeast India's full potential. For complete details of the panel discussion, please check the video link provided below. https://lnkd.in/gubzsB2H #ActEastPolicy #ASEAN #IndoPacific #VikshitBharat #RegionalCooperation #Development #India #Assam #NEIPPF #NortheastIndiaPublicPolicyForum #PublicPolicy #CrossBorderTrade #EconomicGrowth #BlockchainInnovation #InfrastructureDevelopment #Geopolitics #RegionalDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment #CapacityBuilding #PoliticalStability #LogisticsChallenges #InvestmentOpportunities

China's Surprise News Conference Cancellation Raises Concerns Over Pandemic and Government Accountability #Chinanewsconferencecancellation #COVID19pandemic #economicinstability #governmentaccountability #governmenthandlingofpandemic #governmentmanagementofeconomy #leadershipreshuffle #NationalPeoplesCongress #pressfreedominChina #transparencyinChina

📢 #PandemicAccord – Debunking the myths⚡ 🔴 Myth: WHO can change rules or laws without the consent of its Member States. ❌ This is false. ✅ Fact: WHO cannot change a country’s rules or laws; only countries can do this, under their own domestic laws. Countries are sovereign states and make their own decisions. WHO’s role is to provide evidence-based advice and support, which countries can decide to follow or not. It is for each country to decide, not WHO. 🔗Learn more about the Pandemic Accord here: https://bit.ly/3T86mxU

[Encountering Misinformation and How to Deal with It] With the growing accessibility of the internet and social media in Southeast Asian countries, issues mainly the spreading of misinformation also rise. According to We Are Social (2020), the internet penetration rate in ASEAN countries reached 66% in January 2020. That is, the more citizens are exposed to digital media, the more prone we are to encounter the spread of false news, considering the diverse users of the media and the unclear boundaries of its usage. One of the main reasons for the rise of misinformation is the lack of digital literacy while digital media keeps on growing. Determining right or wrong may become ambiguous and requires a certain level of “effort”. Due to this, the public is more than likely to digest the false information, especially when it feeds their beliefs to a certain degree. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic era as an example, the virus outbreak showed a rise in false information regarding the disease. Also driven by public anxiety at that moment, this period creates a higher degree of information disorder. Dealing with false news requires individual and collective actions. Our first responsibility is to verify an unlikely story and evaluate it before sharing news based on a credible source. At the same time, everyone has the duty to combat the spread altogether, ranging from supporting investigative journalism, reducing financial incentives to spread false news, and improving digital literacy among the public coming from educational institutions. Altogether, these actions will hopefully create a supportive environment that promotes the smart use of technology. In this emerging era of technology, it is urged that ASEAN define clearly the borderline of false news and misinformation, possibly developing an ASEAN-centered fast-checking network. Currently, programs to improve media literacy are being carried out by ASEAN Member States, particularly for young people, in helping them to make more informed decisions. The READI framework, which stands for Responsibility, Empathy, Authenticity, Discernment, and Integrity was also introduced as a guideline for those programs. As part of the youth, we hold the key to building awareness of digital literacy. It requires each of our efforts to wisely use the internet, and create a better ASEAN in the future ahead of us. ASEAN Youth Organization #ASEANyouthorganization #ayoASEAN #ASEANYouth #CounterMisinformation 

The public and private sectors are making concerted efforts to bridge the digital divide. However, this must be accompanied by responsible digital governance to ensure that everyone can use the internet meaningfully. Global Digital Inclusion Partnership Regional Lead for Asia Waqas Hassan reflects on the state of digital rights and inclusion and internet governance post-#APrIGF2024: https://gdip.ngo/3TIBiGd Internet Governance Forum Secretariat Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG) Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum (yIGF.Asia)

Check out the latest forum article of the week, titled "Shifting Public Trust in Governments Across the Arab World" by Paul Makdissi https://lnkd.in/dT_9x_n9

Despite the historical familiarity and affinity between both countries, there are some distinctive trends characterizing Spain and Portugal when it comes to the relationship to media and information. The similarity in terms of news media diets (high reliance in TV as a source, decaying print and radio sectors and the rise of the web, particularly social) hides a deep chasm when it comes to the way the Spanish and the Portuguese view news media in terms of trust, with Spain standing as one of the countries where people trust news the less, and Portugal as one of the most news-trusting countries in the world. Furthermore, the concern regarding disinformation on the internet is more prevalent in Portugal (about 70% of citizens claim to be concerned) when compared to Spain (about 64%)