ASEAN adopts Kuala Lumpur declaration on safe use of social media

According to a VNA correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministers of Information Meeting (AMRI) and related meetings concluded with the issuance of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the safe and responsible use of social media platforms.

In the joint statement, ASEAN committed to building a safe, inclusive and responsible digital environment across the region. Specifically, the Summit reaffirmed the importance of promoting a resilient and people-centered ASEAN Community by addressing challenges posed by the misuse of social media such as the spread of misinformation and hate speech.

The Ministers also highlighted the important role of the ASEAN information industry in promoting cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including social media platforms, to develop and implement practical measures to address harmful online content while protecting freedom of expression.

The meeting also noted the ongoing development of the Guidelines for the Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms in ASEAN to ensure online safety and cybersecurity in the region; appreciated the industry’s contributions to the overall development of ASEAN, and committed to enhancing the role of the information and communications industry in the ASEAN Community beyond 2025.

Going forward, ASEAN will work to address the challenges of the digital age, particularly in combating misinformation, managing the impact of digital transformation, empowering youth as key drivers of innovation in communications and social media, and building a creative economy across the region.

In addition, AMRI highly appreciated the substantive progress in implementing the ASEAN Strategic Plan on Information and Communications Technology 2016-2025, recognizing it as an effective platform that contributes to strengthening regional cooperation, raising public awareness, promoting ASEAN identity and ensuring regional resilience.

AMRI also noted the continued development of the Information and Communications Work Plan 2026-2035, a roadmap designed to adapt to the rapidly changing communications landscape.

According to the joint statement, the new Work Plan is expected to enhance ASEAN’s response to emerging trends, including digital transformation, technological innovation, disinformation, and the growing need for inclusive and accessible media content as ASEAN moves towards its Post-2025 Vision.

The Ministers also acknowledged the effective implementation of the ASEAN Communications Master Plan (ACMP) II for the period 2018-2025, which has contributed to raising public awareness in the region and promoting the ASEAN identity. Building on these successes, AMRI highly appreciated the efforts of the countries to develop ACMP III for the period 2026-2030, aiming to build on current successes and provide strategic communication directions for future ASEAN Community building initiatives.

In addressing the issue of misinformation, AMRI also appreciated the efforts of the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News (TFFN), while emphasizing the need to strengthen content moderation and the importance of closer cooperation with digital platforms to harmonize guidelines among countries in the region.

AMRI called on the TFFN and the three ASEAN Working Groups to work towards the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision beyond 2025, emphasizing the need to remain responsive to evolving trends such as digital transformation, technological innovation and changing media paradigms.

The meeting also acknowledged the important role of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (COCI) in promoting ASEAN awareness and connecting people to people through cultural and media initiatives. The ongoing projects of COCI were highly appreciated for their contribution to supporting AMRI and the Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI), especially in strengthening media capacity and promoting regional integration, innovation and resilience.

The meeting also discussed ASEAN’s partnerships in the field of information and communications, and assessed the effective implementation of the ASEAN+3 Work Plan 2018-2025 and expressed optimism that a successor plan would address challenges in digital and communications innovation.

Significant progress was also made in ASEAN’s media cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea, with the participation of new partners such as Norway, Pakistan and Türkiye, demonstrating ASEAN’s efforts to expand international media cooperation. The joint statement also said that the 18th AMRI and related meetings will be held in Cambodia in 2027.

The 17th AMRI Conference and the 8th AMRI +3 Conference concluded on May 7. All ASEAN member states, as well as Timor Leste, China, Japan, South Korea and the ASEAN Secretariat participated in the meetings./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/asean-thong-qua-tuyen-bo-kuala-lumpur-ve-su-dung-mang-xa-hoi-an-toan-post1037203.vnp