ASEAN Pushes For Stronger Media Ties Amid AI Risks

From Noor Soraya Mohammad Jamal

FUZHOU (China), Nov 4 (Bernama) -- ASEAN and its Plus Three partners -- China, Japan and South Korea,  must strengthen media cooperation and promote responsible artificial intelligence (AI) governance to safeguard information integrity and public trust amid rapid digital transformation.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said the growing influence of AI in shaping how information is produced, distributed and consumed has made it increasingly important for media organisations to uphold accuracy, transparency and accountability.

He said while AI offers significant opportunities for the media industry, its rapid advancement also raises serious concerns over misinformation, manipulation, privacy and public safety.

“Media professionals have an important role to play. They can reflect diverse perspectives, safeguard privacy, and help the public distinguish credible information from misinformation and manipulation,” he said at the 12th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Media Cooperation Forum here. Kao delivered his speech in a pre-recorded video.

The APT Media Cooperation Forum was held in conjunction  with the 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road.

Kao said ASEAN has taken concrete steps to strengthen responsible AI governance through several regional initiatives, including the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap and the ASEAN AI Safety Network.

He said these initiatives reflect ASEAN's commitment to harnessing the benefits of emerging technologies while ensuring their development and application remain safe, responsible and people-centred.

In the media and information sector, he said ASEAN has embarked on a new 10-year work plan aimed at improving access to information, strengthening information integrity and addressing challenges arising from digital transformation and AI.

The regional grouping also intends to develop a new work plan with its Plus Three partners to expand cooperation in the media and information sector, including through stronger partnerships and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Beyond technological challenges, Kao emphasised the importance of strengthening professional networks among journalists across ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea to promote accurate, responsible and context-driven reporting on regional developments.

He said capacity-building programmes, personnel exchanges and joint reporting initiatives could enhance professional standards while fostering greater understanding among media practitioners from different countries.

Kao also underscored the media's broader responsibility in translating regional cooperation into meaningful narratives that resonate with ordinary citizens.

“For many of our citizens, regional cooperation is not experienced through official documents or communiqués. It is experienced through the stories they read, watch and share.

“How those stories are told can shape whether ASEAN Plus Three is seen as a distant process, or as a partnership that makes a real difference in daily life,” he said.

As regional economies and societies become increasingly interconnected, Kao said the media plays a crucial role in helping the public understand both the opportunities and challenges of deeper cooperation.

Kao said the forum's emphasis on strengthening the ASEAN Plus Three mechanism, deepening economic and trade cooperation, and promoting mutual learning among civilisations was particularly timely.

He added that ASEAN Plus Three remains one of the region's most substantive and enduring cooperation frameworks, with achievements spanning financial stability, public health, food security, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

The APT Media Cooperation Forum, organised by China's People's Daily, brought together leaders of mainstream media organisations, scholars, experts and business leaders from ASEAN Plus Three countries to exchange perspectives on regional media cooperation and emerging challenges in the information landscape.

-- BERNAMA