U.S.-Taiwan Tech Challenge: Countering Disinformation and Propaganda wrapped up Feb. 20 at Taipei International Convention Center, bringing experts, journalists and officials together to explore methods for reducing the reach of disinformation and cultivating media literacy among the public.
Organized by American Institute in Taiwan and Global Engagement Center of the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with local state-backed Institute for Information Industry and Washington-based Park Advisors, the two-day event included presentations by technology companies from home and abroad showcasing the latest innovations in the fight against disinformation.
Examples include Taiwan’s Trend Micro Inc. and Cyabra from Israel. The former was lauded for Dr. Message, a free tool used to identify fake news on instant-messaging app LINE, while the latter showed off artificial intelligence-based technology for spotting manipulations to visual content.
Other companies in attendance were tech giants Facebook Inc., Google, Microsoft Taiwan Corp. and PTT Bulletin Board System; media outlets CommonWealth Magazine, Public TV Service Foundation, Storm Media and The News Lens; as well as nongovernmental organizations Cofacts, Doublethink Lab, Taiwan FactCheck Center and Taiwan Media Watch Foundation.
Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai thanked all the companies for their presentations. Taiwan needs society-wide support in facing the threat posed by disinformation, he said, adding that the government will continue its private-sector partnerships intended to set the record straight on fake news while safeguarding the country’s democratic way of life.
His sentiment was echoed by AIT Director Brent Christensen, who said Taiwan is on the front-line of disinformation from China intended to weaken local institutions.
Taiwan and the U.S. are like-minded partners that strive together and thrive together, Christensen said, adding that collaborations such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework are proof of what the two sides can achieve.
Future efforts will focus on facilitating information sharing both bilaterally and with other friendly countries and territories throughout the Indo-Pacific, he added.
Launched in 2015, the GCTF has hosted more than 450 experts, officials and representatives from 38 countries and territories across 22 international workshops covering topics such as energy security, humanitarian assistance, media literacy and women’s empowerment. (YCH-E)
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