SABACIREBON – 21st General Assembly ASEAN Journalists Confederation which was held in Kuala LumpurMonday, produced the Kuala Lumpur Declaration as the organization’s strategic guidance in facing future journalism challenges.
CAJ Secretary General, Ahmed Kurniasaid the declaration would be the main direction which would then be translated into a concrete action plan.
“This declaration will be a compass for CAJ’s next steps,” he said.
In the document, CAJ reaffirms its commitment to strengthening journalism in the ASEAN region amidst global dynamics and rapid technological developments, including artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence(AI).
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This declaration also refers to Bali Declaration 2022 who previously emphasized the importance of a healthy, independent and responsible press, upholding ethics and professionalism.
CAJ assesses that AI brings great opportunities in improving the efficiency of journalistic work, data analysis and interaction with the audience. However, this technology also carries serious risks, such as the spread of misinformation, decreased public trust, and the potential for abuse in the production of manipulative content.
For this reason, CAJ emphasized that the role of professional journalists remains crucial in carrying out verification, providing context and maintaining the truth amidst the flow of information which is increasingly influenced by algorithms.
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The Confederation encourages the responsible, transparent and ethical use of AI, and ensures the technology serves as an aid, not a substitute for human editorial judgment.
In addition, the CAJ also highlighted the importance of protecting the integrity of information, including through standards for the use of AI-based content, disclosure of sources, as well as measures to combat the phenomenon of deepfakes and other synthetic media.
On the other hand, press freedom is reaffirmed as the main foundation of a democratic society, sustainable development and regional stability. CAJ expressed concern over the increasing pressure on journalists, both in the form of restrictive regulations, intimidation, and security threats in physical and digital spaces.
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This organization also encourages the creation of an ecosystem that supports freedom of expression, access to information, and protection of journalists in accordance with international principles and ASEAN values.
The CAJ also assesses the importance of a fair regulatory framework to ensure global digital platforms operate responsibly, respect the local context, and support the sustainability of the media industry in the region.
Collaboration between members is one of the main focuses, including through knowledge exchange, capacity building, as well as joint initiatives in AI literacy and digital resilience.
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In this forum, the Indonesian delegation was represented by the Head of Foreign Relations Association of Indonesian Journalists, Irfan Junaidiproposes strengthening the solidarity of ASEAN journalists to face the dominance of global platforms which has an impact on media revenues.
Apart from that, Indonesia is also encouraging the formation of a joint fact-checking network to combat hoaxes and disinformation in the region. This proposal was accepted as part of CAJ’s future action plan.
On the same occasion, CAJ leadership was officially handed over from Atal S. Depari to Low Boon Tatmarking the start of Malaysia’s leadership period for the next two years.
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Next, the CAJ leadership baton is scheduled to continue to the Philippines, before being handed over to Cambodia.***
