On the afternoon of September 18, in Da Nang City, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a press conference before the 16th ASEAN Ministers on Information (AMRI) Meeting and sideline events.

The event was well prepared.

The representative of the International Cooperation Department said that regarding the organization, this conference was carefully prepared. Along with Vietnam and 9 ASEAN member countries, Timor Leste was invited to attend for the first time as an Observer. ASEAN dialogue partners China, Japan, and South Korea also sent delegations. Each delegation will have from 5 to 20 members.

Since 2022, as the host country, the Ministry of Information and Communications has presided over the organization plan, coordinated with departments, ministries and branches (such as the Government Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Finance...) and the People's Committee of Da Nang City to develop a comprehensive and detailed plan to prepare for AMRI 16; 5 sub-committees under the AMRI 16 Organizing Committee were established to ensure the organization of all activities at the event as well as ensure safety and security for delegates attending.

Press reporters attending the press conference.

In addition, the Ministry of Information and Communications has also coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN member countries to propose the conference's theme, draft documents expected to be adopted and the agenda of the AMRI Conference. The People's Committee of Da Nang City has actively coordinated with the Ministry of Information and Communications in organizing work at related stages...

The conference will feature two outstanding activities: the ASEAN Forum on responding to and handling fake news in cyberspace; and digital transformation of journalism and media.

“Vietnam and other countries in the region will share experiences to learn from each other in communication. In addition, Vietnam has many other contents and is proposing for ASEAN to approve,” said a representative of the Department of International Cooperation.

Discuss regional solutions to effectively handle fake news and disinformation

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam shared that the Press and Communications industry is facing a global problem, facing increasing competition with new media methods. “We have a new generation of information consumers, citizens who live almost entirely in the digital space, no longer having the same awareness and experience as previous generations…”

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam, this is not a purely Vietnamese problem but a global problem. Countries that are connected to each other in an ASEAN organization will have regional forums to share good experiences and good practices to deal with this.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam shared at the press conference.

The Deputy Minister said that through this conference, the Organizing Committee hopes that countries in the ASEAN region will solve the problem of digital transformation of traditional newspapers, to dominate cyberspace and lead the direction of information in cyberspace. The second is to find models in digital space associated with economic efficiency...

To do this, ASEAN countries will have to discuss regional solutions to handle fake news, misinformation, and limit the negative impacts of new technologies introduced into the information sector.

“When people have access to information from many sources but are also victims of fake news, new media methods, taking the interests of the people as the target of service. The press and media of ASEAN countries in the context of being affected by this story, but are both active agents, if not decisive, must not be allowed to lose in the “battle” with other social media methods. We must both see the opportunities and overcome the challenges, to realize our strength to serve the community.

The organizing committee expects that the participating countries, headed by the Ministers in charge of information of ASEAN countries, will have the opportunity to share experiences, propose national initiatives and reach consensus on common action programs to respond to this issue...", the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Within the framework of the event, tomorrow (September 19), an ASEAN forum on responding to and handling fake news in cyberspace will take place. The event is a place for exchanges between state management agencies, the press, cross-border platforms and relevant parties to affirm the determination of ASEAN countries against the harmful effects of fake news, towards ASEAN's common efforts to create a healthy and trustworthy information space for the people.

Vietnamnet.vn