ASEAN Focuses on AI Governance and Cybersecurity at Digital Ministerial Meeting in Singapore

SINGAPORE – The 4th ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting, ADGMIN, and the associated dialogue with partners including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the United States of America, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), recently convened in the Republic of Singapore, marking a significant stride towards enhanced digital cooperation within the region. The meeting was represented by Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Brunei Darussalam’s Minister of Transport and Infocommunications.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the assembly underscored the critical areas of artificial intelligence (AI) governance, strategies against scams, and cybersecurity advancements. Brunei Darussalam heralded the creation of the ‘ASEAN Working Group on Anti-Online Scam,’ a collective endeavor aimed at mitigating the prevalent threat of online scams through shared information and coordinated efforts across member states. Furthermore, the meeting ratified the ADGSOM-ATRC 2024 workplan, with Brunei Darussalam spearheading pivotal projects such as the ‘Govstack Initiative ASEAN’ and the ‘Established ASEAN Internet Exchange Network’. Under the leadership of Her Excellency Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, the conference embraced the theme ‘Building an Inclusive and Trusted Digital Ecosystem,’ laying down a comprehensive roadmap for digital integration and security within the ASEAN bloc.