Arab League Calls for Joint Mechanisms to Confront Media Disinformation and AI After Wars and Crises
-Growing disinformation and use of AI in crafting narratives
Media is an influential party in managing conflicts, not merely a transmitter of events
Amr Yehia
Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the League of Arab States, called for developing joint Arab mechanisms to confront media disinformation and verify information, and to enhance the capacity of media institutions to deal with fake content produced by artificial intelligence technologies, stressing the need to build Arab media narratives that enhance collective awareness and preserve Arab interests amid the rapid transformations witnessed in the region.
This came during the opening of the symposium entitled "The Future of Arab Media After Wars and Crises: Towards Enhancing Collective Awareness and Public Trust," organized by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in cooperation with the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Cairo, with the participation of a number of academics and researchers specialized in media and communication.
Khattabi affirmed in his speech, delivered by Dr. Alaa Al-Tamimi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Research and Strategic Studies Department, that media is no longer merely a transmitter of events, but has become an influential party in managing conflicts and directing public opinion, warning that media institutions have become capable of calming societies or inflaming them, building trust or undermining it, and protecting truth or distorting it, which imposes increasing professional and ethical responsibilities on media workers.
The Head of the Media and Communication Sector explained that the symposium was held at a stage that witnessed an escalation in armed conflicts and political and humanitarian crises, coupled with rapid transformations in the media and communication environment, where information is transmitted instantly via digital platforms, and the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in crafting narratives and influencing public opinion has grown.
He stressed the need for media institutions to adhere to professionalism, accuracy and objectivity, and not to be drawn into rumors, propaganda or hate speech, emphasizing the importance of developing professional frameworks governing media work during armed conflicts and crises.
He pointed out that contemporary wars have created new challenges, including the widespread dissemination of false information, the escalation of media disinformation campaigns, the use of artificial intelligence in producing fake content, as well as the direct targeting of journalists and media institutions.
Khattabi emphasized the importance of developing the system of joint Arab media work and building Arab narratives that enhance collective awareness, in addition to restoring public trust by enhancing transparency and credibility in governmental and media communication.
He explained that the symposium aimed to foresee the future of Arab media in the post-war and crisis phase, define its strategic priorities, and develop joint mechanisms for verifying information and confronting disinformation.
He also stressed the importance of producing professional and reliable media content that respects the public's right to knowledge, while preserving community security, civil peace and human values, with respect for freedom of expression, human rights and international humanitarian law.
He expressed hope that the scientific discussions would result in implementable initiatives, effective institutional partnerships and practical recommendations that contribute to developing Arab media and enhancing its ability to face crises.
The symposium program included two scientific sessions dealing with the strategic management of the Arab media scene, confronting media disinformation, information security, the impact of artificial intelligence on media practices, and the role of governmental communication in restoring public trust.
The first session, titled "Strategic Management of the Arab Media Scene and Building Awareness After Crises," focused on mechanisms for Arab media integration and international communication management in the post-crisis phase.
The session program also included a research paper on the role of Arab narratives in managing public opinion, and a research paper on foreseeing the future of the Arab media scene and defining its priorities in the post-crisis phase.
The second session was devoted to discussing "Information Security, Confronting Disinformation and Building Trust After Crises," and included a paper on the relationship between public trust and effective governmental communication, and the role of institutional communication in enhancing community trust.
The symposium focused on discussing ways to develop the performance of Arab media institutions in the post-crisis phase, enhancing their ability to deal with digital transformations, confronting misleading information, and building trust between media institutions and the public, within the framework of supporting the joint Arab media work system.
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