ASEAN steps up fight against fake news with new training module
This module aims to combat fake news by enhancing fact-checking, addressing AI-related misinformation, strengthening legal frameworks and promoting ethical information standards.
THE HANOI TIMES — ASEAN leaders will adopt a new training module to combat fake news as part of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on safe and responsible social media use at the 47th ASEAN Summit this month.
Flags of ASEAN member countries. Photo: Vietnam News Agency
Malaysian Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced this at a workshop on October 2 in Kuala Lumpur on developing the training framework against falsified information, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The framework rests on five pillars, including identifying modern misinformation, addressing AI-driven misinformation, strengthening fact-checking and digital verification skills, creating ASEAN’s legal and ethical framework and upholding values and ethical standards in information.
According to Fahmi, the initiative will help ASEAN member states build a safer Internet environment and limit the spread of misinformation and stop online fraud.
He recalled that fake news caused serious harm to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, and warned that the society now faces a new “information pandemic” in which people often become the most vulnerable victims in the age of rapid digitalization.
For Vietnam, fighting fake news has become a priority for both central and provincial governments to safeguard public trust. Many measures have been taken to combat fake news and ensure cybersecurity and social order.
In 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications received and handled 1,130 reports related to harmful content, scams and false information. The ministry reviewed 168 organizations and individuals and imposed penalties on 55 cases with total fines of VND556 million (US$21,000).
The Vietnam Anti-Fake News Center (VAFC) has also regularly issues warnings. The center has recently uncovered fake versions of the “Trang Nguyen Tieng Viet” competitions designed to scam students and parents.
Another notable case involved Vingroup filing lawsuits against 68 organizations and individuals, both domestic and overseas, for spreading false information about the group’s financial situation and operations.
