Verified news must survive the AI age, say PNG media chief

Papua New Guinea's media industry is actively pushing back against the evolving information landscape, where social media, misinformation, and artificial intelligence are increasingly influential. Neville Choi, president of the Media Council, stated that the government's initial stance in 2023, treating social media as equivalent to mainstream journalism, prompted significant debate and calls for regulation.

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In 2023, our national leadership started to take notice of social media. What happened next was our national leadership started positioning social media as the same as mainstream media.

This shift led the media industry into sustained discussions with government officials regarding a draft Media Development Bill and a new AI framework. Choi described the initial phase as the industry feeling "pushed into a corner with social media, totally unregulated." However, the situation has since evolved into a more constructive dialogue, with the Media Council lobbying the government for two years on the draft policy.

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There were calls for regulation. There were calls for no standards in news and media.

The collaborative effort has resulted in a policy that now incorporates industry recommendations. Beyond media regulation, the policy response is also addressing artificial intelligence. Papua New Guinea has developed an AI framework for government systems, a process Choi acknowledged was complex due to the country's diversity, with "over 800 plus languages and different cultures."

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That was a win on our part.

Furthermore, a special parliamentary committee is examining the media's role in combating misinformation and has recommended stronger legal protections for journalists. Choi emphasized that the focus for both government and media should be on how people engage with social media. He advocates for "stress testing" all AI programs and technologies incorporated into media practices, promoting training and public education to ensure technology serves as a tool rather than a master.

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It hasn’t been an easy ride working with government. But both government and media, we both now recognise that the focus should be on our people and how they engage and how they use social media.