The impact of misinformation and disinformation in the Pacific is growing as connectivity increases, technology advances, and more people access the online information space.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and Royal Oceania Institute (ROI) held a two day conference with the media, members of parliament and government discussing misinformation, disinformation and the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific Island governments.
About this initiative:
The ‘ASPI-ROI Pacific Islands misinformation and disinformation workshops’ are a new collaborative step forward, building on similar workshops that have previously been held in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga with government and media. They are designed to enhance participants understanding of false information online, including how to identify the tactics and techniques used to help misinformation and disinformation spread. We seek to improve the support that Australia and other partners provide to professionals in the region through workshop activities.
Outcomes:
Participants and presenters alike benefited from the sharing of experiences with false information as well as discussing the unique challenges and opportunities Pacific governments face. ASPI is an independent think tank and external to government, but their work is highly influential on Australian and US Pacific policy. ROI is an independent Tongan think tank, whose goals are to support and pursue Pacific-centred, ethical, fact-based research and analysis. The joint facilitation of this workshop not only provided an opportunity for the sharing of personal experiences with peers, but also insights into the industry and advice on how it can be improved. The outcome of these workshops will directly influence Australian policy and support.
More about ASPI:
ASPI is an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces expert and timely advice for Australian and global leaders. ASPI generates new ideas for policy makers, allowing them to make better-informed decisions. ASPI is one of the most authoritative and widely quoted contributors to public discussion of strategic policy issues in the Indo-Pacific region and a recognised and authoritative Australian voice in international discussion on strategic, national security, cyber, technology and foreign interference issues. More about ASPI and our work can be found here: https://www.aspi.org.au/about-aspi