IGF 2024 Day 0 Event #75 Addressing Information Manipulation in Southeast Asia

Reflecting the multistakeholder nature of IGF, this session is co-organised by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Google Asia-Pacific under the research consortium of the Safer Internet Lab (SAIL). Southeast Asia is increasingly a hotspot for Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) as great power competition escalates in the Indo-Pacific region. FIMI describes a pattern of mostly non-illegal but manipulative behaviour conducted by state or non-state actors and their proxies that threatens to impact values, procedures, and political processes negatively. While Southeast Asia is underrepresented in global internet governance discourse, it is experiencing significant digital growth and potential alongside vulnerabilities from both internal and external risks. Internally, the uneven terrain and divergent capabilities of ASEAN member states create challenges. Externally, rising FIMI activities, especially disinformation campaigns, pose threats to the region's stability and democratic resilience. A number of external actors are engaging in sharp power and corrosive capital across Southeast Asia's economic, political and information domains.

However, ten countries in the region differ in their interpretation of what constitutes hostile interference versus acceptable influence, stemming from its diverse socio-political contexts. To harness innovation and balance risks in Southeast Asia's digital space, it is critical to convene regional stakeholders to exchange knowledge and develop collective, multistakeholder responses. This session will share insights on varieties of FIMI across the ASEAN political and information landscape, economic and technological vulnerabilities that enable interference, best practices and solutions from local, national and regional perspectives, and recommendations to mitigate risks while preserving the benefits of digital growth. By fostering dialogue between state and non-state actors, this event aims to elevate Southeast Asian voices in the global discourse on safeguarding the digital ecosystem from manipulation. It will explore how to cooperatively tackle disinformation, protect democratic institutions, and build resilience - so that the region can continue to harness digital innovation as a powerful force for socio-economic development and progress. The session expects to receive valuable multi-stakeholder input to inform—and potentially even offer constructive and mutually beneficial solutions—the understanding and current policy and regulatory approaches to address information manipulation and disinformation in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. This will be important to raise awareness of the global Internet Governance community, including the technical community and civil society, on the nature and ramifications of the current debates.

This hybrid workshop will be facilitated by two moderators—one on-site and one online—to ensure seamless integration and engagement of all participants. The session will begin with brief expert presentations, followed by an extended 10-15-minute Q&A and discussion. Moderators will actively encourage both onsite and online attendees to pose questions, provide input, and exchange ideas using tools like Mentimeter for polling and Padlet for crowdsourcing. Live streaming will enable global participation. At the session's conclusion, moderators will summarize key findings, recommendations, and future actions, which will be compiled and disseminated to participants post-event, along with a visual recording. This workshop aims to model inclusive, impactful hybrid discussions at IGF 2024 through skilled moderation, intuitive technology, and active audience contribution. The goal is to convene diverse Southeast Asian voices to jointly combat digital threats like foreign information manipulation and interference while amplifying the region's innovation potential.