Organized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), the 2023 Indo-Pacific Workshop on Countering Disinformation opened on Tuesday. The workshop brings together international experts for dialogue on the effect of disinformation and discuss strategies on how to effectively combat these threats.
Speaking at the event, American Institute in Taiwan Director Sandra Oudkirk praised Taiwan. She said that Taiwan provides an invaluable example given the democratic regression and human rights violations happening in the Indo-Pacific region. She also conveyed the United States’ appreciation for Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, respect for freedom, and commitment to the rule of law.
Oudkirk also pointed out how open and democratic societies like the U.S. and Taiwan bear the brunt of the spread of disinformation especially now in the internet era and with the increasing prevalence of AI. She added that this makes the workshop all the more valuable for the sharing of experiences and best practices.
TFD Chairperson and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) said in his speech that information manipulation has become a common problem in democratic countries. You added that Taiwan stands at the forefront of the fight against authoritarianism in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of collaboration in developing strategies to combat false information.