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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday termed the use of disinformation and misinformation in situations of foreign occupation and conflict as &ldquo;highly concerning,&rdquo; concealing human rights violations and demonizing lawful struggles for self-determination, said a statement by the permanent mission of Pakistan to the United Nations. The remarks were made by Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Usman Jadoon while delivering a national statement during the 48th session of the Committee of Information (COI). Jadoon stated that false narratives are deployed to obscure human rights violations, demonize lawful struggles for self-determination, and silence affected populations. The statement said that Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the misuse of digital platforms to amplify falsehoods, deepen polarization, and target vulnerable communities.&nbsp; &ldquo;The persistence of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in the digital space is particularly alarming, often translating into real-world harm,&rdquo; said the statement. Highlighting the profound transformation of the global information ecosystem, Jadoon observed that while technological advancements have expanded access to information, they have also accelerated the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech at an &ldquo;unprecedented scale.&rdquo; Simultaneously, he cautioned that these trends undermine public trust, social cohesion, and the credibility of multilateral institutions, including the UN, as per the statement. Jadoon stressed that &ldquo;timely, accurate, and impartial communication&rdquo; is particularly critical in the current context of geopolitical tensions, polarization, and widening inequalities.&nbsp; He emphasized the &ldquo;constructive role&rdquo; of information, stating that it must serve as a bridge for dialogue and cooperation rather than as a tool for manipulation, division, or repression, the statement added. While addressing emerging technological challenges, the ambassador highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence and generative technologies.&nbsp; He noted their transformative potential and the risks they pose to information integrity if misused, as per the statement. He also underscored that the global response must be both &ldquo;comprehensive and balanced.&rdquo; He called for respect for diverse cultural, legal, and social contexts in developing global frameworks on information integrity, cautioning against selective or uneven application, as per the statement. He emphasized the need for the restructured DGC to further strengthen its coordinating role in UN strategic communications, ensuring coherence, credibility, and accessibility across the system, it added. The representative also underscored the importance of multilingualism in ensuring inclusive communication and supported efforts to expand content across languages and regions, it said. The ambassador also called for &ldquo;structured engagement&rdquo; with major technology companies, noting their significant influence over global information flows and the UN&rsquo;s important role as a platform for dialogue and cooperation in this domain.&nbsp; He added that Pakistan stands &ldquo;ready to work&rdquo; constructively with the DGC and all member states to promote an information environment that is truthful, inclusive, and respectful of human dignity

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Terms the use of disinformation and misinformation in situations of foreign occupation and conflict as “highly concerning,” obscuring human rights violations and demonizing lawful struggles for self-determination

Pakistan warns disinformation undermines legitimate struggles for self-determination

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar, called for a united front against misinformation, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan on Monday. According to the statement, Tarar cited a World Economic Forum report that ranks false information as a bigger short-term global threat than nuclear warfare or climate change. The information minister was speaking at a dialogue organized by the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. The event focused on &quot;Facts Survive AI: Fighting Misinformation Together.&quot; &quot;The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report of 2024 says that the biggest short-term risk to the world at large is misinformation,&quot; Tarar said, according to APP. &quot;They do not say climate change. They do not say nuclear warfare.&quot; The information minister announced the establishment of Pakistan&#39;s first Digital Communication Department under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The department counters misinformation through social media handles that verify information or label fake content, he said. The minister met with representatives of social media platforms that have started labeling AI-created content, the news agency reported. &quot;So, I think we need to have labels for AI-created content or AI-generated content,&quot; he said. Tarar praised IBA&#39;s iVerify system for its success in combating false information at the national and international levels. He called for establishing more such systems to promote responsible journalism and combat fake news effectively. &quot;The community at large, the government, media houses, academia, the civil society, everyone has a role to play in countering misinformation,&quot; Tarar said. The minister urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and All Pakistan Newspaper Society to join the effort. He assured them of full government support. Tarar cited Pakistan&#39;s information response during a May conflict with India as an example of effective narrative management. &quot;Pakistan won that war in a very, very effective manner,&quot; he said. The ministry, he said, is collaborating with the United Nations Development Program to address misinformation. A training workshop scheduled this week will equip Ministry of Information officers and media professionals with skills to counter false information. Tarar stated that there was a need to educate younger generations about the ethical use of AI. &quot;We need to educate all segments of society on how to use AI responsibly,&quot; he said. The minister highlighted vulnerable groups, including minorities, children, and women, as particularly at risk from misinformation campaigns. The information minister stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted the ministry full authority to combat misinformation. He expressed hope that younger generations can work together to defeat misinformation.

Tarar also urged tech platforms to cooperate on combating AI-generated fake news and disinformation campaigns.

Articles tagged with "misinformation"

Pakistan warns disinformation undermines legitimate struggles for self-determination

Misinformation bigger threat than nuclear war, climate change: Pakistan information minister