Seoul:KPL Deputy Director General Sivanxay Siphankham called for news outlets across Asia to establish clear ethical guidelines as AI tools become increasingly integrated into newsrooms. This announcement was made during the 8th International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Media Forum.
According to Lao News Agency, the forum, themed "Artificial Intelligence Transformation," gathered regional media executives and political representatives to explore AI's expanding influence on public communication. Among the attendees was Chung Eui-yong, Chairperson of the ICAPP Standing Committee and former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea.
Siphankham noted the operational benefits AI brings, such as overcoming language barriers, speeding up data processing, and enhancing international coverage. However, she cautioned against significant risks, including the emergence of deepfakes, the spread of automated misinformation, and the potential for algorithmic bias.
"In this era of AI, how do we protect the soul of journalism?" Sivanxay questioned, stressing that AI should be a tool guided by human judgment rather than a substitute for professional editors. She outlined three core principles for media organizations and governments to navigate the digital transformation within the industry.
The principles include ethical governance and human oversight, emphasizing that AI should be implemented with strong editorial standards, state governance, and public digital literacy. Siphankham stressed KPL's rule "We verify before we amplify." The second principle is respect for cultural context, ensuring AI strategies respect national sovereignty, local laws, and cultural diversity. Lastly, she called for global cooperation, urging international media networks and governments to collaborate in bridging technological divides and addressing cross-border digital threats.
Siphankham concluded by stating that while AI brings unprecedented speed to modern newsrooms, maintaining core journalistic ethics is crucial to ensuring that speed is directed appropriately.