AI, Political Communication and Informational Disorder in Southeast Asia
Nuurrianti Jalli, author
Date of publication:
2026
Publisher:
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Number of pages:
49
Code:
TRS29/26
Soft Cover
ISBN: 9789815393071
About the publication
- This study examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping political communication and intensifying informational disorder in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. It is based on stakeholder interviews and documentary analysis.
- Generative AI (GenAI) has not created a new system of political manipulation. It is, however, strengthening existing campaign networks, cyber-trooper operations, troll farms, partisan influence industries and commercial content ecosystems by making persuasive content cheaper, faster and easier to adapt and circulate.
- These effects vary across the three countries. In Indonesia, synthetic media have supported political image construction and selective historical narratives. In Malaysia, AI is entering established campaign and influence practices. In the Philippines, it is increasing the capacity of an already professionalized political influence industry.
- AI governance across Southeast Asia has expanded through legislation, proposed laws, election regulations, technical standards, voluntary guidelines and new institutions. But these measures remain fragmented and poorly integrated with electoral integrity, synthetic-media disclosure, coordinated amplification, platform accountability and political activity outside formal campaign periods.
- ASEAN has developed a stronger regional framework, but its mechanisms remain largely voluntary and lack an integrated cross-border response. The priority is to operationalize existing initiatives through common disclosure standards, incident reporting, evidence sharing, regional capacity-building, stronger platform transparency, and safeguards for legitimate political expression.
Contents
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AI, Political Communication and Informational Disorder in Southeast Asia
[Whole Publication, ISBN: 9789815393088], by Nuurrianti Jalli, author
