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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum calls for greater Global South role in shaping global AI governance
At the seventh plenary session of the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum (earlier known as the 'BRICS Media Forum'), more than 250 representatives from media organisations, think tanks, government agencies and enterprises from 36 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro to deliberate on ways to foster greater South-South co-operation, including on joint R&D and co-established standards, for a more equitable sharing of Artificial Intelligence (AI) benefits across nations. A major concern that emerged was the risks of AI capabilities being concentrated among a few actors located in a handful of countries, with several participants noting that it could create dangerous dependencies for Global South nations. The Forum, organised on July 15-17, highlighted the importance of open source development of AI as well as the need for Global South nations to work together for a greater say in the shaping of AI governance frameworks. Mr Thorsten Jelinek, Europe Director and Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute, pointed out that some amount of 'regulatory autonomy' is critical to maintain the balance between multilateralism and sovereignty. 'The history of modern technology, whether it is telecommunications or the internet, has been shaped not only by innovation but also by technological, economic and institutional hierarchies and dependencies,' he noted, adding that the right governance framework would encourage AI as 'a moral partner' to growth and development. The Forum's lead statement on AI also called on media organisations and think tanks in the Global South to develop a 'multilingual and multimodal corpus'. This would 'lay the foundation for training large-scale AI models that serve journalism and think tank research.' By 'leveraging AI to translate quality content into multiple languages,' it will become possible to increase 'the availability of 'Global South Stories', elevate the international voice and influence of the Global South' and showcase the diversity of Global South civilisations, it said. Mr Fu Hua, Executive Chairman of the Forum and president of Xinhua News Agency, observed that BRICS was becoming the 'main channel for fostering Global South unity and self-reliance'. Noting that the BRICS countries represent vast civilisational diversity and pluralism, he urged BRICS media organisations and think tanks to prioritise and amplify stories from different parts of the Global South as a necessary corrective to the prevailing hegemonies and biases in the international media landscape. Speaking in the context of the US threat to impose additional punitive tariffs on countries wanting to join BRICS, Mr Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, emphasised that the BRICS grouping was not in opposition to any country but a mechanism 'to seek equity and justice' in the international governance scenario. 'Given that the world seems to be going back to the jungle rule of tariff turbulence, BRICS nations must co-operate more to protect their interests and oppose unilateralism,' he said. 'The US is our biggest trade partner, we have a free trade agreement with them, nearly 40 million Mexicans live in the US, and despite all this, we are living with daily threats of tariffs, and millions of Mexicans in the US could lose their citizenship any day,' said Ms Yeidckol Polevnsky Gurwitz, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations Committee of the Mexican Senate, adding, 'The world cannot organise itself around unilateralism and inequity, it needs to be built around co-operation and multilateralism.' Organised by Xinhua News Agency in collaboration with partners from BRICS nations, the Forum officially launched the 'Global South Joint Communication Partnership Program', an initiative by Xinhua to promote dialogue and cooperation across various sectors within the Global South. So far, 700 institutions have joined the Partnership Program, which leverages two core platforms – the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum and the Global South Media News Network. The Forum also launched a new report by Xinhua, titled 'The Rise of the Global South', a compilation that showcases stories of political and economic resurgence in post-colonial societies across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
BRICS media should leads the charge for an inclusive global narrative
General view during a plenary session of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With nearly half the world's population represented by BRICS nations, the influence our media outlets hold in shaping narratives, challenging bias, and offering alternative perspectives is vast. Image: Pablo Porciuncula / AFP AS leaders and media representatives from across the BRICS nations gathered in Rio de Janeiro for this year's BRICS Media Forum, we found ourselves at a critical juncture in global media and geopolitics. With the recent expansion of BRICS to include Indonesia and 10 new partner countries under the BRICS+ framework, the forum signalled a deepening of collaboration, not just among governments and economies, but also across our most vital communications platforms. The forum's guiding vision aligns with Brazil's broader BRICS+ priorities for 2025: strengthening inclusion, enhancing South-South cooperation, and reforming global governance. In this context, the media plays an indispensable role in promoting dialogue, building trust, and safeguarding truth. With nearly half the world's population represented by BRICS nations, the influence our media outlets hold in shaping narratives, challenging bias, and offering alternative perspectives is vast. The Rio forum offered us the opportunity to reaffirm our shared values and recalibrate our responsibilities, especially in a world increasingly threatened by disinformation, propaganda, and polarisation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Three central themes guide the forum: Championing Justice – Media's role in shaping a new world order Strengthening Exchanges – Media's recipe for invigorating Africa's growth Fostering Innovation – Media's duty in driving green development Each of these topics presents a roadmap not only for BRICS cooperation but for how the global media landscape could evolve toward greater fairness, accuracy, and ethical responsibility. A key pillar of any functioning democracy, and indeed of sustainable development, is press freedom. Across the world, the media have come under pressure, whether through government censorship, corporate interference, or subtle forms of financial manipulation. As BRICS media leaders, we must be vigilant and vocal in defending the freedom of the press, both within our borders and abroad. Equally important is the fight against fake news and disinformation. One proposal worth serious consideration is the formation of a BRICS joint media task force dedicated to countering misinformation. Through shared technological tools, fact-checking systems, and journalist exchanges, we can collectively elevate the credibility and integrity of news disseminated within and beyond BRICS nations. Diversity and inclusion also deserve a central place in the BRICS media agenda. Our alliance encompasses a wide array of cultures, languages, and lived experiences. This diversity must not only be reflected in our coverage; it must be celebrated as a strategic advantage. Through collaborative reporting, editorial partnerships, and cultural exchanges, we can resist the homogenisation of media that so often accompanies Western dominance in global news flow. Technological innovation is another vital area. The digital age has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities. As BRICS nations, we must invest in innovation and digital inclusion, especially in underserved regions, so that the full benefits of new media platforms are available to all. From combating digital surveillance to embracing AI responsibly, media innovation must be shaped by ethical and human-centred values. Beyond media collaboration itself, the BRICS bloc also has a historic opportunity to challenge structural inequalities in global governance. One bold proposal is the establishment of a BRICS Ratings Agency, a counterbalance to Western-dominated financial rating institutions that often fail to account for the developmental realities of the Global South. A BRICS-led agency could offer more nuanced, fair, and contextually appropriate assessments, especially for public enterprises and state-led development projects. Similarly, the idea of a common BRICS currency continues to gain traction. While implementation would be complex and gradual, such a currency could help member states reduce dependency on the US dollar, stabilise trade relations, and enhance economic sovereignty. As we look to the future, institutional reforms must remain at the heart of the BRICS project. A permanent secretariat or coordinating body for BRICS media, for example, would help ensure continuity, shared standards, and deeper collaboration. It would also safeguard our momentum beyond rotating presidencies and changing political landscapes. * Adri Senekal de Wet is the editor-in-chief of Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
