PHNOM PENH — Cambodian authorities have issued a strong call for global media organisations to strengthen their fact-checking mechanisms, warning that artificial intelligence and social media platforms have made misleading and manipulated content significantly easier to spread across borders. Speaking at the First Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Media Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 1, Ministry of Information undersecretary of state Prak Thaveak Amida emphasised that reliable information, fair representation, and respectful discussion are essential to strengthening social cohesion in an increasingly polarised world. The forum, organised by Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency under the theme “Building Trust through Media in a Polarised World,” brought together senior government officials, media leaders, and communication specialists from CICA member countries to discuss public trust, ethical reporting, and regional media cooperation. Amida represented Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra at the roundtable session titled “The Role of the Media in Strengthening Social Cohesion and Intercultural Dialogue.” His remarks come at a time when the global media landscape is grappling with the rapid proliferation of generative AI tools, deepfakes, and algorithm-driven echo chambers that threaten to undermine public confidence in journalism. CICA, established in 1999 as a multi-national forum for promoting peace and cooperation across Asia, currently counts 27 member states, and Azerbaijan’s chairmanship has placed media-related issues prominently on its agenda. The day-long forum marked one of the first occasions where CICA member countries have devoted an entire event to examining the media’s role in building social trust, reflecting growing recognition that information integrity is as important as political and economic cooperation in maintaining regional stability.
Amida told the gathering that social cohesion does not depend on everyone holding the same view, but rather on the ability to examine differing views on the basis of verified information and with respect for those involved. “Responsible journalism helps sustain that common ground, especially when an issue is sensitive or public emotions are strong,” he noted. The Cambodian official highlighted his country’s “Say No to Fake News” campaign, which encourages citizens to check the source, evidence, and context of information before sharing it. He argued that these skills help citizens engage with information responsibly and support dialogue based on facts rather than suspicion. The campaign, launched by Cambodia’s Ministry of Information in recent years, is part of a broader effort to combat the spread of misinformation in a country where social media usage has grown rapidly, with platforms like Facebook and Telegram becoming primary news sources for a significant portion of the population. According to the ministry, discussions at the forum also covered strategies to counter misinformation, strengthen journalism ethics, and manage the opportunities and risks that AI presents for media organisations. Amida’s emphasis on verification reflects a growing consensus among Asian nations that media literacy must be treated as a fundamental skill in the digital age, alongside traditional literacy and numeracy. He stressed that ordinary citizens, not just professional journalists, bear a shared responsibility for preventing the spread of false information, and that public education campaigns must be paired with robust editorial standards within news organisations to create a comprehensive defence against the erosion of truth in public discourse.
The Cambodian official acknowledged that social media and artificial intelligence have expanded opportunities for people to communicate and learn across cultures, but warned that the same technologies have made misleading and manipulated content easier to produce and disseminate. “Such content can deepen distrust if it is accepted or shared without scrutiny,” he said. This dual-edged nature of technology was a recurring theme throughout the forum, with delegates from multiple countries sharing their experiences in tackling disinformation campaigns and the challenges posed by AI-generated news articles, synthetic images, and manipulated audio recordings. The forum’s discussions delved into the specific mechanisms by which false information spreads, including the role of algorithmic amplification and the tendency for sensational content to outperform accurate reporting in engagement metrics. Delegates also examined successful initiatives from various countries, including fact-checking networks, public education campaigns, and regulatory frameworks designed to hold platforms accountable for the content they host. Amida’s warning resonates particularly strongly in Southeast Asia, where several countries have experienced serious incidents of misinformation triggering social unrest, public health crises, and even violence. The rapid adoption of AI tools in newsrooms across the region has added urgency to these conversations, as journalists themselves must now navigate the ethical implications of using generative AI for content production, from automated news writing to AI-assisted video editing. Some delegates noted that AI can also be harnessed as a tool for good, helping fact-checkers analyse large volumes of content quickly and identify patterns of coordinated disinformation, but they cautioned that such defensive uses remain underdeveloped compared to the offensive capabilities available to bad actors.
Beyond verification, Amida urged journalists to ensure that reporting on culture, identity, or belief included the voices of those directly concerned and sufficient context to explain their experiences. “An isolated incident should not be allowed to define an entire community. Accuracy, thoughtful language and professional judgment can help prevent misunderstanding from taking root,” he said. His remarks outlined three ways media could strengthen social cohesion: fair and accurate representation, coverage that makes intercultural dialogue part of everyday public life, and credible platforms for constructive discussion of differences. This framework suggests a proactive role for media, not merely as passive transmitters of information but as active participants in building bridges between communities. Amida’s call for context and nuance is particularly relevant in an era of clickbait journalism, where complex issues are often reduced to simplistic narratives designed to maximise engagement. He stressed that journalists must resist the temptation to generalise from isolated incidents, a practice that has historically contributed to stereotyping and prejudice against minority communities. The roundtable session, moderated by ADA University faculty member Shafag Mehraliyeva, included representatives from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan, who shared their own perspectives on how media can foster intercultural understanding in their respective regions. The diversity of participants underscored the universal relevance of these issues, as countries ranging from Central Asia to the Middle East confront similar challenges in balancing freedom of expression with social harmony, and in ensuring that journalistic practices do not inadvertently inflame ethnic, religious, or sectarian tensions.
As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia valued unity in diversity, Amida claimed, noting that the region’s many languages, cultures, traditions, and histories placed a responsibility on journalists to consider how their coverage shaped perceptions of other communities. He pointed to stories of cooperation in schools, workplaces, and communities as a way to show how people from different backgrounds addressed common concerns together. Such coverage, he argued, could help audiences appreciate diversity while recognising shared experiences and aspirations. The official also advocated for exchanges among journalists and jointly produced content that could bring those experiences across borders, allowing audiences to learn about other societies through the voices of their people. This vision of cross-border media cooperation is central to CICA’s mission, which seeks to build confidence among Asian nations through dialogue and collaboration. Amida expressed Cambodia’s support for cooperation among CICA media institutions and professionals on responsible reporting, verification, media literacy, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. He also endorsed joint content production that presented participating countries’ cultures and experiences with authenticity and respect, suggesting that such initiatives could help counter the often one-sided narratives that dominate international media coverage of Asian affairs. In practical terms, this could involve exchange programmes for journalists, collaborative investigative projects across borders, and the development of shared ethical guidelines for reporting on cultural and religious matters. Amida’s proposals reflect a broader diplomatic push by Cambodia to position itself as a constructive player in regional media governance, building on its experience chairing ASEAN in 2022 and hosting various regional dialogues on digital issues.
The day-long forum featured two roundtable sessions, with the first examining initiatives, cooperation, and results under Azerbaijan’s CICA chairmanship. The second session, in which Amida participated, brought together representatives from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan to discuss the role of media in strengthening social cohesion. Amida concluded his remarks by emphasising that the media’s contribution to social cohesion depended on everyday editorial decisions, including whose voices were heard, whether claims were verified, and how differences were explained. “When those decisions are guided by accuracy, fairness and respect, the media do more than inform. They help build the trust that allows dialogue to flourish,” he said. The forum concluded with a shared recognition that media organisations across Asia face common challenges in the digital era, and that cooperation on fact-checking, media literacy, and ethical reporting standards is essential to maintaining public trust. For Cambodia, the participation in the CICA Media Forum represents an opportunity to share its experiences and learn from others as the country continues to develop its media sector. The strong attendance at the forum, despite the polarised global climate, suggests that Asian nations are increasingly committed to finding common ground through dialogue and mutual understanding. As Amida’s remarks made clear, the path forward lies not in avoiding difficult conversations but in ensuring that those conversations are grounded in facts, respect, and a genuine commitment to truth. The forum also set the stage for future collaboration, with several delegates expressing interest in establishing a permanent CICA media working group that could meet regularly to address emerging challenges and share best practices. Such an initiative, if realised, would represent a significant step toward institutionalising the kind of cross-border cooperation that Amida and other speakers advocated, ensuring that the discussions in Baku translate into concrete actions in the months and years ahead.
