The Safer Internet Lab team is sailing through Taipei from 18-23 August 2024 to discuss how internet governance development can be advanced in the Asia-Pacific region. Representatives from SAIL participated in the Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC) pre-conference, the Asia-Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF), and the Taiwan Internet Governance Forum (TWIGF). These events provide a platform for discussion, exchange, and collaboration at the regional level, aiming to aggregate national Internet Governance Forum (IGF) discussions and gather regional perspectives in preparation for the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh this December.

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Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC)

To kick off the series of discussions on internet governance in Taiwan, the Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC) pre-conference was held at the NTUH International Convention Center from August 18-19, 2024. Some of our associate researchers participated in this event.

Who’s afraid of government super-apps? Impact of digitalisation on privacy and surveillance risks

Unggul Sagena from SAFENet, also our associate researcher, participated in a panel discussion with Jam Jacob (Foundation for Media Alternatives) and Grace Huang (Judicial Reform Foundation). This session focused on ongoing digitalization and e-governance projects in Asia, including identifying emerging and potential threats that need to be addressed.

Further information about the session: https://drap.ac/24-session/whos-afraid-of-government-super-apps-digitalizations-impact-on-privacy-and-surveillance-risks/ 

Using games in digital rights: Session opener and showcase of Taksa, a visual novel on disinformation

Pradipa P. Rasidi from EngageMedia, who is also our associate researcher, shared his work and insights during this session. In this workshop, Pradipa explored the potential of games and gamification to drive social change and create playful interventions for social causes. He also introduced Taksa: A Game on Disinformation, developed by EngageMedia.  This video game in interactive story format is designed similarly to Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

Further information about the session: https://drap.ac/24-session/games-for-social-change-using-games-and-gamification-in-digital-rights-and-open-tech/ 

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APrIGF & TWIGF 2024

This three-day event, from 21-23 August 2024, began with keynote speeches from notable figures, including Amrita Choudhury (APrIGF MSG Chair), Kenny Huang (Chair of TWNIC), Kuo-Wei Wu (Chair of TWIGF), Yennun Huang (Minister of the Ministry of Digital Affairs), Bi-khim Hsiao (Vice President of the Republic of China), and Vint Cerf (IGF Leadership Panel Representative). This year’s edition was organized by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, along with the Taipei-based Taiwan Network Information Center and Taiwan Internet Governance Forum.

Charting the Path for a Regional Fact-Checking Coalition in the Asia-Pacific

The SAIL team organized a session at APrIGF 2024, led by CSIS’s Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Medelina Hendytio. Beltsazar Krisetya, our principal researcher, presented our policy brief on how an Asia-Pacific regional coalition can tackle existing and emerging challenges in information disorder and fact-checking efforts. This policy brief served as the focal point for the discussion.

The policy brief was examined through a panel discussion featuring four prominent speakers: Shita Laksmi (Diplo Foundation), Jean-Jacques Sahel (Google), Eve Chiu (Taiwan Fact-Check Center), and Ellen Tordesillas (VERA Files). Additional comments were provided by Ratna Aini Hadi, the policy brief’s author, as well as Daisuke Furuta (Japan Fact-Check Center) and Rajneil Kammath (Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) India). The discussion underscored the importance of building a strong and sustainable Asia-Pacific fact-checking coalition while respecting and adapting to the diverse contexts within the region.

During this session, Eve Chiu also announced that the Asia-Pacific regional fact-checking collaboration is taking shape and emphasized the need for leadership, addressing common challenges, and securing financial support to build a strong and sustainable coalition.

Further information about the session: https://aprigf.tw/programs/charting-the-path-for-a-regional-fact-checking-coalition-in-the-asia-pacific/ 

Rewatch the session: https://sail.ink/youtubeAPrIGF

From Innovation to Impact: Responsible AI – challenges and opportunities to tackle online fraud and scams

In another session, one of our researchers, Joanna Octavia, contributed to the discussion on the challenges and opportunities in tackling online fraud, alongside other speakers: Yi-jing Lin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA); Jean-Jacques Sahel, Head of Information and Content Policy APAC, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google; Jennifer Chan, Head of Legal, Greater China, Senior Director and Associate General Counsel, Asia Pacific, Meta; Edmon Chung, CEO, DotAsia Organisation. Moderated by Nicole Chan, Chairperson of the Artificial Intelligence Foundation, this session addressed the double-edged sword of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fight against fraud and scams. AI-powered tools enable the creation of highly convincing content that could be misused for fraudulent purposes at an unprecedented scale, but AI also has the potential to be a powerful ally in combating these threats.

During this session, Joanna shared the research that Safer Internet Lab on deepfakes used for financial fraud. She also emphasized how digitalization is driving the rise of online fraud and scams in Southeast Asia and highlighted the role of civil society in addressing this issue.

Further information about the session:  https://aprigf.tw/programs/from-innovation-to-impact-responsible-ai-challenges-and-opportunities-to-tackle-online-fraud-and-scams/ 

Rewatch the session: https://sail.ink/streamingTWIGF

A Multistakeholder Approach to Safeguarding Information Integrity through Advancing Internet Governance in Asia and the Pacific

Fitriani, our research consultant, participated in another session organized by the Wikimedia Foundation. In this session, led by Rachel Judhistari, Fitriani, along with other speakers including Michael Caster, Reke Wang, and Rachmat Wahidi, discussed regulations and implementation of internet governance in Asia and the Pacific. They also explored challenges and opportunities in safeguarding online information integrity and emphasized the multistakeholder approach as key to advancing progressive internet governance in the region.

While using the multistakeholder approach model in Australia and Indonesia as examples, Fitriani highlighted the benefits of this approach to include diverse voices. However, she also reminded us of the challenge of ensuring that all stakeholders have an equal say in decision-making.

Further information about the session: https://aprigf.tw/programs/a-multistakeholder-approach-to-safeguarding-information-integrity-through-advancing-internet-governance-in-asia-and-the-pacific/ 

Rewatch the session: https://sail.ink/402day2