PHNOM PENH: Fifty young Cambodians have thrown their weight behind efforts to help the public recognise AI-generated scams, check misinformation in Khmer and use digital services safely.
A group of dedicated university students, recent graduates and young professionals got together at a September 29 workshop to work in teams to try and solve some of the most pressing problems affecting Cambodian communities.
Their proposed responses covered online safety for older and rural residents, access to learning for students with limited internet connectivity and responsible AI use at universities.
The one-day workshop, organised by the APNIC Foundation and Open Development Cambodia (ODC), also covered phishing, account takeovers, deepfakes and scams using AI-generated voices or videos. (APNIC is the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre.)
Participants learned how they can protect their online accounts, including multi-factor authentication, as well as how to respond to a security incident.
Aftab Siddiqui, the APNIC Foundation’s head of stakeholder relations, highlighted the importance of young people developing an understanding of both the uses and the limits of AI-generated content.
“Building that capability means combining effective use of AI with verification, critical evaluation and appropriate human oversight,” he said.
The teams were asked to consider the risks and limitations of their proposals, rather than assume technology alone could solve the problems.
ODC executive director Thy Try noted that digital skills, responsible AI use and cybersecurity were becoming essential for young Cambodians.
He said young people needed the confidence to help shape how emerging technologies are used.
The workshop was held under the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity’s Young Professionals and Students programme.
It was delivered with cybersecurity organisation ISC2 as a knowledge partner, as well as with support from the Australian government.
According to the organisers, the training aimed to give participants skills they could use in education, work and daily life.
The event ended with a session connecting them with representatives from the ICT sector, universities, government and development organisations. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
