pdf version available here.
Conference Programme
23 MAY
| 1000–1010
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Welcome Address
Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Black Dot Research |
| 1010-1030 | Presentation: Inter-generational Truth in the Digital Age
Professor Edson C. Tandoc Jr, Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-Cube) |
| 1030-1115 | Panel: Negotiating the Information Landscape in Asia – Addressing Misinformation and Disinformation Challenges for 2024
Panellists: Moderator: Mr. Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Black Dot Research |
| 1115-1130 | Break |
| 1130-1200 | Fireside Chat: Keeping the lights on – Ensuring Sustainable Funding for Independent Fact-Checking in the Region
Mr Harry Sufehmi, Mafindo Indonesia |
| 1200-1315 | Lunch |
| 1315-1400 | Panel: White-washing in election campaigns – observations from elections in the region
Panellists: Moderator: Mr Nicholas Fang, Black Dot Research |
| 1400–1430 | Presentation: Empowering Responsible Digital Supply Chains –Cultivating a Culture of Due Diligence
Dr. Samantha Hoffman, Australian Strategic Policy Institute |
| 1430–1500 | Presentation: The proliferation of misinformation during crises – Perspectives from the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Ms Liubov Tsybulska, The Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine |
| 1500-1545 | Panel: In Conversation with Journalists – Ethical Dilemmas when Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation
Panellists: Moderator: Mr Nicholas Fang, Black Dot Research |
| 1545-1555 | Break |
| 1555-1640 | Breakout Session: Forming a Collective – Fostering Inclusivity & Advancing Shared Capabilities |
| 1640–1700 | Concluding Remarks |
24 MAY
pdf version available here.
| 1000–1010 | Welcome Address
Mr Nicholas Fang, Black Dot Research |
| 1010-1020 | Keynote Address
Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information |
| 1020-1030 | Break |
| 1030-1115 | Panel: Across the border – Different Perspectives on Election Interference
Panellists: Moderator: Mr Nicholas Fang, Black Dot Research |
| 1115-1145 | Presentation: Navigating Geopolitics in Asia amidst the rising tide of Misinformation and Disinformation
Mr. Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, RSIS |
| 1145-1155 | Break |
| 1155-1240 | Presentation: How is Technology Changing the Information Environment?
Mr. Albert Zhang & Dr. Samantha Hoffman, Australian Strategic Policy Institute |
| 1240-1325 | Panel: Collaborative Approaches to curbing the spread of misinformation & disinformation in vulnerable communities?
Panellists: Moderator: Dr Elmie Nekmat, Associate Professor, Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore |
| 1325-1335 | Closing Remarks |
| 1335 Onwards | Lunch and Networking |
Speakers and Panellists
23 MAY
pdf version available here.
Speakers
Mr. Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Nicholas has more than 15 years of experience in the media industry. He was a senior correspondent at the Straits Times for nine years, and later moved to Channel NewsAsia at Mediacorp as Business Desk Editor and presenter. He was also Deputy Chief Editor of Singapore news at Mediacorp. Nicholas Fang is currently the Director for Security and Global Affairs in the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, a non-profit and independent think tank. |
Professor Edson C. Tandoc Jr, Edson C. Tandoc Jr. is a Professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where he is the Deputy Chair and the Associate Chair for Research. He is the founding Director of the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-cube). His studies have focused on the impact of journalistic roles, new technologies, and audience feedback on the news gatekeeping process. His research also explores how readers participate in reconsidering journalistic norms and how changing news consumption patterns facilitate the spread of fake news. |
Mr. Harry Sufehmi, Harry Sufehmi founded MAFINDO in 2016, an anti-hoax organization based in Indonesia. Since then MAFINDO has blossomed into multiple chapters in 17 cities, 300+ local volunteers, and 85.000+ online volunteers, managed by offices in 2 cities. He serves as Presidium of MAFINDO, focusing on developing anti-hoax tech, to help volunteers combat hoaxes. Such as Yudistira, the core anti-hoax engine, with Open API facility. Kalimasada, a WhatsApp chatbot, enables people to fact-check anything they find on WhatsApp by just forwarding it. HBT (Hoax Buster Tools) is an app that enables fact-checking on smartphones, and several others. |
Dr. Samantha Hoffman, Dr Samantha Hoffman is Managing Director of ANS Analytics LLC, an open-source intelligence company that combines deep subject matter expertise with data-driven solutions. She is a former Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and an author of the recent ASPI report “Truth and Reality with Chinese Characteristics: The building blocks of the propaganda system enabling CCP information campaigns”. Her work has helped shape global approaches to understanding challenges posed by the Chinese party-state’s national security strategy, and how the Party-state harnesses technology for security purposes. She holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham (2017), an MSc in Modern Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford (2011), a BA in International Affairs from State University (2010), and a BA in Chinese Language and Culture from Florida State University (2010). |
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Ms Liubov Tsybulska, Liubov Tsybulska is a leading Ukrainian expert on hybrid warfare, an advisor to the government of Ukraine, and founder of the The Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. Throughout her career, she has worked on issues relating to hybrid threats, security and geopolitics. |
Panellists
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Mr. Albert Zhang, Albert is an analyst with ASPI specialising in cyber, technology and security matters. His research delves into the intersection of foreign interference, encompassing influence operations, disinformation, and cyber-espionage, with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, extended reality, and persuasive technologies. As a skilled open-source intelligence analyst and investigator, Albert provides strategic insights into contemporary geopolitical issues. He possesses advanced programming skills in languages such as R and Python and has developed AI-enabled applications tailored to analyse complex datasets. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science, with a major in Pure Mathematics from the University of Melbourne. Before joining ASPI, he was a research student with the Walter Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and pursued his interest in law by studying towards a Juris Doctor. |
Mr Aribowo Sasmito, Aribowo Sasmito is Co-Founder and Fact-Check Specialist of MAFINDO, a non-profit organization focusing on combating false information (or hoax as commonly called in Indonesia), literacy education, and social movements by training and convening with journalists and media, educating consumers of online media, and by building communities of online fact-checkers. |
Mr. Mike Raomanachai, Mike Raomanachai is a lead trainer for Cofact Thailand and a certified digital verification trainer for Google News Initiative (GNI). He has trained journalists and newsrooms across Thailand and Southeast Asia in digital tools, digital safety and verification since 2019. Mike was also a broadcast journalist with more than 10 years of experience in technology and business news. |
Ms. Zevonia Vieira, Zevonia Vieira has been a journalist for more than 10 years. She began volunteering at the Sahe Media Popular production house to produce documentaries. In 2006 Zevonia was Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly newspaper called Kla’ak. Currently Zevonia is President of Asosiasaun Jornalista Timor Lorosa’e (AJTL), journalist and editor in media online www.neonmetin.info, and also a writer focusing on women’s and gender issues. She is also a trainer for digital and media literacy (digital safety and physical safety), journalism (peace journalism, gender and environment). |
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Mr. Giang Nguyen, Giang Nguyen is a Visiting Senior Fellow with Media, Technology and Culture Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. An experienced news editor, with over 20 years with the BBC World Service in London, he is now conducting research on media control, misinformation and public debates in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Giang Nguyen holds a master’s degree in transnational communication at Goldsmiths College, University of London and is a former fellow at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford. |
Mr. Chua Chin Hon, Chua Chin Hon is Lead, Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Solutions for Mediacorp News Group. He was formerly a supervising editor at TODAY and before that bureau chief in China and the United States with The Straits Times. In his current role, he works with teammates in the News AI team as well as research institutions, start-ups and tech companies to prototype, test, and deploy AI-powered solutions for Mediacorp’s multi-lingual newsrooms. |
24 MAY
pdf version available here.
Speakers
|
Guest of Honour
Dr. Janil Puthucheary |
Mr. Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, Research Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Muhammad Faizal is a Research Fellow with the Regional Security Architecture Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). He holds a Master of Science (Strategic Studies) degree from RSIS, NTU and Bachelor of Business Administration (with Merit) from NUS. He has a research background in terrorism and geopolitical cyber threats. Prior to RSIS, he served many years in the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security Coordination Secretariat where he headed teams in the roles of intelligence analysis, international relations, and national security analysis; achieving several commendation awards for operational and analysis efficiency. He graduated from the Singapore Police Force Command & Staff Course in 2009. He also served a stint in the Ministry of Communications and Information where he focused on the intersection of digital security and geopolitics. His current research interests include the implications of diplomatic, informational, military, and cyber issues on regional security; entwinement of technology and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific security architecture; as well as information/influence operations’ and hybrid threats’ challenges on regionalism. |
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Dr Samantha Hoffman is Managing Director of ANS Analytics LLC, an open-source intelligence company that combines deep subject matter expertise with data-driven solutions. She is a former Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and an author of the recent ASPI report “Truth and Reality with Chinese Characteristics: The building blocks of the propaganda system enabling CCP information campaigns”. Her work has helped shape global approaches to understanding challenges posed by the Chinese party-state’s national security strategy, and how the Party-state harnesses technology for security purposes. She holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham (2017), an MSc in Modern Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford (2011), a BA in International Affairs from State University (2010), and a BA in Chinese Language and Culture from Florida State University (2010). |
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Mr. Albert Zhang, Albert is an analyst with ASPI specialising in cyber, technology and security matters. His research delves into the intersection of foreign interference, encompassing influence operations, disinformation, and cyber-espionage, with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, extended reality, and persuasive technologies. As a skilled open-source intelligence analyst and investigator, Albert provides strategic insights into contemporary geopolitical issues. He possesses advanced programming skills in languages such as R and Python and has developed AI-enabled applications tailored to analyse complex datasets. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science, with a major in Pure Mathematics from the University of Melbourne. Before joining ASPI, he was a research student with the Walter Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and pursued his interest in law by studying towards a Juris Doctor. |
Panellists + Moderators
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Mr. Nicholas Fang, Nicholas has more than 15 years of experience in the media industry. He was a senior correspondent at the Straits Times for nine years, and later moved to Channel NewsAsia at Mediacorp as Business Desk Editor and presenter. He was also Deputy Chief Editor of Singapore news at Mediacorp. Nicholas Fang is currently the Director for Security and Global Affairs in the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, a non-profit and independent think tank. |
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Mr Aribowo Sasmito, Aribowo Sasmito is Co-Founder and Fact-Check Specialist of MAFINDO, a non-profit organization focusing on combating false information (or hoax as commonly called in Indonesia), literacy education, and social movements by training and convening with journalists and media, educating consumers of online media, and by building communities of online fact-checkers. |
Ms. Zevonia Vieira, Zevonia Vieira has been a journalist for more than 10 years. She began volunteering at the Sahe Media Popular production house to produce documentaries. In 2006 Zevonia was Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly newspaper called Kla’ak. Currently Zevonia is President of Asosiasaun Jornalista Timor Lorosa’e (AJTL), journalist and editor in media online www.neonmetin.info, and also a writer focusing on women’s and gender issues. She is also a trainer for digital and media literacy (digital safety and physical safety), journalism (peace journalism, gender and environment). |
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Bing Wen is a geek at heart who likes learning about things, building things, and making things better. In his day job, he is lucky enough to get to do all of this as part of CPF Board’s Frontier Products Team, which he leads. Outside work, he is a volunteer at better.sg who founded and drives a tech for social good initiative, checkmate.sg. |
Ms Nadia Ramli, Nadia Ramli has been with the National Library Board (NLB) for more than 8 years. She has conducted numerous tours and talks for children, students and adults during her time at NLB. She believes that information literacy is an important skill for all ages, be it researching projects for school or discerning information on social media. |
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Dr Elmie Nekmat, Dr. Elmie Nekmat is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Communications and New Media. He is concurrently a Principal Investigator for the Center for Trusted Internet and Community (CTIC), Research Associate at the Center for Family and Population Research (CFPR), and Resident Fellow at Ridge View Residential College in NUS. Dr. Elmie Nekmat specializes in media effects research, focused on the social psychological processes and effects of source and information evaluation on civic engagement and expression, and strategic communication in social networked computer-mediated environments. |
