KUALA LUMPUR: The sharing of unverified news on social media platforms is one of the biggest threats posed by fake news, said the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD).
Its secretary-general Philomena Gnanapragasam said that it was crucial that a collaborative approach is taken by Asean member nations to combat the growing threat posed by fake news.
"The issue of fake news transcends borders.
"It affects communities, undermines institutions and weakens public trust," she said in her welcoming address at a seminar on Developing Training Modules for Combating Fake News in Asean here.
Gnanapragasam, who is also AIBD chief executive officer, added that it was equally important for media literacy to be developed within the Asean community as a means to address the issue.
"Media literacy is needed to a certain level and to understand why people share fake news.
"One of the biggest dangers of fake news is the habit of sharing.
"For example, most of us use WhatsApp and the danger is, what is being shared, whether it is the right or wrong news," she said.
The aim of the seminar is to find a common collaborative approach to address the issue, Gnanapragasam added.
"This seminar is more than just a platform for discussion.
"It is a step toward a more united and informed Asean," she said.
Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR) director Roslan Ariffin said that spread of fake news is not confined to a particular country but could spread beyond its borders.
"Fake news doesn’t need a passport, doesn’t pay airport tax, and somehow always finds its way into our aunties’ WhatsApp groups.
"But the hopeful part is that truth can also travel, if we give it the right wings," he said in his welcoming address.
He added that the goal of the seminar was not merely to draft strategies but develop tools that can be adapted in schools, communities, and newsrooms to counter fake news.
"Let us also strengthen something equally important, which is collaboration.
"Fake news divides us, but collaboration unites us.
"The strongest antidote to misinformation is not just facts, but friendships," Roslan said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) head of media communication programme Assoc Prof Dr Sabariah Mohamed Salleh acknowledged that the recent emergence of AI deepfakes posed a problem, particularly among those who are not well versed with the use of such technology.
She said that AI deepfakes could be detected visually if created by less sophisticated software programmes.
"Such deepfakes can be detected by looking at the lip movements of the image if it was badly created video.
"However, it becomes very difficult or almost impossible to tell if the image was created using more sophisticated programmes," she said.
Sabariah, who is the co-founder of fact checking alliance Jom Check, advised members of the public to verify with fact-checkers if unsure of the authenticity of a particular video.
This includes where the video images had originated from, she added.
A total of 45 participants are attending the two-day seminar involving media practitioners and academicians from Asean.
