Fulcrum Analysis - Securing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor: Navigating Conflicts and Public Skepticism
Picture: Myo Kyaw Soe / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP
In this paper published by NYSEAN Partner ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Kyi Sin examines China's determination in implementing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) projects.
Kyi Sin is a Research Officer in the Myanmar and Thailand Studies Program at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute.
The rapid advancement and availability of sophisticated tools like artificial intelligence (AI) have elevated the spread of misinformation to unprecedented levels. AI-driven technologies can produce vast amounts of highly convincing misinformation at an alarming rate, making it increasingly difficult for the average person to distinguish truth from falsehood. These tools can create deep fakes, manipulate images and videos, and generate realistic text that mimics genuine news articles or social media posts. The sheer volume of this AI-generated content threatens to overwhelm traditional fact-checking methods, a concern repeatedly highlighted by professional fact-checkers from Masyarakat Anti Fitnah (MAFINDO) and Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Indonesia and VERAFiles in the Philippines.
Moreover, AI’s ability to micro-target audiences exacerbates the problem. By analysing vast amounts of data, AI can identify and exploit individual and group vulnerabilities, tailoring disinformation to specific demographic segments. This precision targeting can manipulate people’s beliefs and behaviors more effectively than broad-based propaganda efforts. In the context of elections, such micro-targeting can sway voters’ opinions, reinforce existing biases, and polarise communities. The use of AI in disseminating political disinformation is not just a technological issue but a profound societal challenge that requires urgent attention from policymakers, technology companies, and civil society.
