The 2023 Indo-Pacific Workshop on Countering Disinformation in 2023 was organized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). In her address, Sandra Oudkirk, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, stated that fighting misinformation is about safeguarding both national security and democracy.
Taipei hosts the Indo-Pacific Workshop on Countering Disinformation in 2023 to combat the spread of false information.Photo reproduced from Taiwan Foundation for Democracy official website
The opening ceremony of the Indo-Pacific Workshop on Countering Disinformation was attended by delegates from Nauru, St. Lucia, Italy, and the American Institute in Taiwan's director, Sandra Oudkirk, as well as the president of the Legislative Yuan, You Si-kun. Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Sandra Oudkirk stated that Taiwan offers a priceless example at a time when the Indo-Pacific area is seeing a decline in democracy and violations of human rights. As a result, the US supports Taiwan and other democratic allies in their efforts to advance a society devoid of human rights violations, tyranny, and spying.
False information, according to Sandra Oudkirk, is endangering the democratic election process, which is especially concerning as it serves as the means by which the people pick their leaders and build their government. False information during the most recent elections has caused great harm to Taiwan and the United States. The whole democratic system is at danger if the public loses faith in free and fair elections.
Furthermore, Director Sandra Oudkirk said that misinformation may take many different forms, such as stifling crucial conversations, excluding influential or marginalized perspectives, influencing incorrect opinions and policy preferences, or even instigating violence. Voting behavior will be impacted by false information because it undermines public confidence in institutions and the media. Thus, defending against misleading information serves to protect both national security and democracy.
