On February 27, 2024, Asia Society Seattle hosted a roundtable discussion on Unravelling the Complexities of Disinformation in ASEAN Countries, featuring David Tang, Managing Partner at K&L Gates, and Kristi Heim, Asia Society Seattle Advisory Council member.

The roundtable explored the primary challenges posed by disinformation in the region and discussed comprehensive approaches to address them. David Tang highlighted the significant threat of disinformation to human rights, espcially in targeting vulnerable populations and undermining trust in governments. He emphasized the role of identity politics in ASEAN’s information landscape and the diverse approaches to disinformation regulation within the region. Tang also addressed the challenge of controlling the negative effects of AI while harnessing its benefits, pointing out AI’s potential to both generate and regulate disinformation. Kristi Heim noted the accelerated dissemination of disinformation facilitated by modern technologies. The discussion with the audience included topics on foreign government information campaigns in ASEAN countries, AI and social media regulations, and the importance of finding common ground to develop multilateral solutions.