SIEM REAP, Cambodia, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The 20th Asia Media Summit kicked off on Tuesday in northwest Cambodia, with a focus on digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
Cambodian Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra said technology has empowered citizen voices, yet enabled bad actors to distort the truth at scale.
"The digital revolution has democratized content creation, expanded the frontiers of journalism, and amplified unheard voices," he said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the summit.
"But it has also fueled disinformation, hate speech, algorithmic bias, and the dangerous spread of deepfakes," he added.
Pheaktra said no country, no matter how advanced, can tackle this alone.
"The only viable path forward is collective action based on shared values, technological collaboration, and principled multilateralism," he said.
Speaking of the rise of AI in the media industry, the minister said AI has the potential to revolutionize how people create, distribute, and consume content.
"It brings enormous efficiency and creativity, but it also introduces new threats such as deepfake manipulation, data bias, and automated misinformation," he said.
Pheaktra said Cambodia believes in a human-centered approach to AI, one that protects jobs, amplifies truth, and promotes accountability.
"That is why I propose that this summit begins discussions on a joint regional charter for AI ethics in journalism -- one that upholds transparency, fairness, and respect for human dignity," he said.
"Together, we can uphold truth in the digital age," he added. ■
