China in the World Southeast Asia and Disinformation
Dec 12, 2024
Sutawan Chanprasert, founder of DigitalReach, and Ibrahim Suffian, director of Merdeka Center, dive into Southeast Asia's rising disinformation challenges. They explore how misinformation—especially from China—manipulates political narratives and shapes public opinion. The conversation highlights the need for robust media literacy and fact-checking mechanisms. They also discuss Malaysia's nuanced diplomatic relationship with China amidst ongoing maritime tensions, and emphasize the essential role of collaboration among civil society to combat digital information warfare.
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PRC Disinformation in Southeast Asia
- Disinformation in Southeast Asia often has political objectives, both domestic and international.
- PRC-related disinformation, observed more recently, targets specific countries like the Philippines due to South China Sea tensions.
Facebook Disinformation Removal
- In 2020, Facebook removed China-originated networks spreading disinformation, mainly in the Philippines.
- These networks used fake accounts posing as locals, amplifying content about South China Sea activities.
Malaysia-PRC Relations
- Malaysia and the PRC share a long-standing relationship, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties this year.
- This has resulted in limited disinformation, with both nations emphasizing positive aspects of the relationship.