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New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Digvijaya Singh slams tech companies for controlling narratives; spreading disinformation at Bharat Summit 2025
HYDERABAD: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged that the tech companies control global narratives and encroach upon citizens' rights. He noted that the erosion of democratic values due to unchecked disinformation. He said: 'The timing of Bharat Summit is crucial. Today, tech companies control global narratives and encroach upon citizens' rights. I've been a personal victim of deepfakes and fake news. Words I never said were attributed to me. Hatred is being amplified at the click of a button'. The panel discussion on 'Facts vs Fiction: Countering Disinformation' as a part of Bharat Summit 2025, the speakers confronted the growing crisis of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age. CEO and co-founder, Punch Up and WeVis, Thailand Thanisara Ruangdej highlighted the information overload in the digital age and the deliberate weaponisation of fake content by political and geopolitical actors. She emphasised the importance of data analysis and fact-checking to combat such content. Former Member of the European Union Parliament, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, stressed that 'what is illegal offline must be illegal online', outlining the EU's policies on digital literacy, media regulation and public education. She urged young citizens to critically assess where and how their information is sourced. Matthew William Faulding of Labour Party, UK, shared the UK's experience with AI-generated videos and viral misinformation, noting the real-world impact and emotional harm it can cause. 'Lies travel faster, and fake news can ruin lives,' he warned. Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia, Ramkarpal Singh announced his country's plans to introduce tighter licensing laws and establish a media council. 'We support strong legal frameworks that do not curb free speech but make stakeholders accountable,' he said. Congress MP Mallu Ravi said that urgent need for digital literacy in schools. He said : 'Just as cigarettes carry a health warning, unverified content should come with disclaimers. Disinformation spreads hate and divides society-we must act before it is too late'.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Fake news is being weaponised'
Hyderabad The menace of unverified content, threat of its weaponisation, the ease with which it fans hatred, and the role of legal reforms and technological checks and balances to combat disinformation, were key areas of focus at another panel discussion at the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad on Friday. The summit brought under one roof, policy-makers, political leaders and experts from across the globe, to discuss policy and reforms. The discussion on 'Fact Vs Fiction: Countering Disinformation' saw Thanisara Ruangdej, CEO and co-founder, Punch Up and WeVis from Thailand, speak about how geo-political actors, and political entities deliberately weaponise fake content. He underscored the significance of fact-checking and data analysis to deal with such malicious content. Videos created after leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) can cause a great deal of harm, said Matthew William Faulding from UK's Labour Party. Issuing a word of caution, he said, 'Lies travel faster, and fake news can ruin lives.' Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh expressed concern over the relative ease with which hate was being spread. 'Today, tech companies control global narratives and encroach upon citizens' rights. I have been a personal victim of deepfakes and fake news. Words I never said were attributed to me. Hatred is being amplified at the click of a button,' he said.
