President Yoon Chairs Session 2 of Democracy Summit
Global Issue of Fake News Spread Using AI Emerges
Need to Strengthen Institutional and Technological Alliances Against Fake News
President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 20th urged that "democratic countries sharing universal values must unite to jointly respond to fake news," emphasizing that if fake news does not stop, a systematic joint anti-propaganda campaign must be carried out.
President Yoon made these remarks during his opening speech at the second session titled "Technology, Elections, and Fake News" of the 3rd Democracy Summit held at the Blue House State Guesthouse that evening.
He first recalled that the world is facing complex crises such as geopolitical conflicts, climate crisis, and food and energy crises following the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that authoritarianism is rising and democracy is being challenged, while the development of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is causing side effects such as fake news.
President Yoon stated, "New products and services utilizing AI and big data are emerging daily, making our lives increasingly convenient, but at the same time, unexpected side effects are occurring," adding, "The indiscriminate spread of fake news and false manipulated information using artificial intelligence and internet bot technology has become a global problem."
Additionally, President Yoon criticized that the organized distribution of fake news by certain forces causes social conflict and division and threatens elections, which are the foundation of democracy, calling it "a clear provocation against democracy." He particularly noted, "This year is a 'super election year' in which one-third of the world's population will vote," and requested that "democratic countries sharing universal values must unite to jointly respond to fake news."
President Yoon explained that democratic countries should jointly prepare laws and systems to strictly handle fake news and that the international community must cooperate to enforce laws against forces attempting to influence other countries' elections. He also clearly stated the need to jointly develop AI and digital systems to detect and eradicate fake news, emphasizing technological solidarity and sharing.
Furthermore, President Yoon stressed that the promotion of democracy worldwide cannot be achieved by the power of a single country alone, and that South Korea will closely cooperate with governments, international organizations, and private partners of various countries while joining forces with international partners to protect democracy from fake news.
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