麻豆国产

Bangkok, Thailand — How can societies build trust, promote inclusive development, and navigate rapid technological change in an era shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms? These questions took center stage during the plenary session, “Communication, Trust, and Transformation in Digital Asia,” held as part of on 5–7 June 2026. 

The session brought together leading scholars from Hong Kong, Laos, and Vietnam to examine how digital transformation is reshaping communication, economic development, public trust, and civic participation across Asia and the Greater Mekong region. 

Professor Masato Kajimoto from the School of Future Media at the opened the discussion by arguing that media literacy in the AI era must move beyond traditional fact-checking. Instead, he called for a broader focus on information integrity within digital ecosystems increasingly driven by algorithms and artificial intelligence. According to Kajimoto, citizens need more than the ability to distinguish between true and false information; they must also understand how platforms and AI systems shape what people see, trust, and share online. 

The discussion then expanded to the economic dimensions of digital transformation. Professor Phouphet Kyophilavong from the Faculty of Economics and Business Management at the presented research on the impact of digital transformation on the economies of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). 

While digital technologies are widely recognized as key drivers of economic growth, he noted that significant digital divides remain between GMS countries and more digitally advanced ASEAN economies. Drawing on economic simulations involving ICT investment, productivity growth, and liberalization of trade in services, Professor Phouphet demonstrated that digital transformation can accelerate economic growth, improve welfare, create employment opportunities for skilled workers, and stimulate industrial development across the region. However, he stressed that realizing these benefits will require sustained investment, clear policy direction, and accelerated implementation of digital strategies throughout the Mekong subregion. 

From a health communication perspective, Associate Professor Long T.V. Nguyen from the School of Communication & Design at examined how digital platforms such as TikTok and messaging applications are transforming health communication in Southeast Asia. He argued that trust in health information is no longer shaped solely by experts and public institutions but increasingly through influencers, online communities, and user-generated content. 

As a result, credibility is now co-created through cultural participation, storytelling, and digital engagement. This shift raises important questions about trust, participation, and digital inequality in contemporary platform societies. 

Despite their different disciplinary perspectives, the speakers agreed that technology alone cannot deliver equitable outcomes. The benefits of digital transformation depend on how societies address issues of trust, inclusion, participation, and inequality. Whether in information ecosystems, economic development, public health, or civic participation, the benefits of digital transformation depend on how societies address issues of trust, inclusion, participation, and inequality. 

The speakers agreed that the future of Digital Asia will depend not only on technological innovation and economic growth but also on societies’ ability to ensure that digital transformation remains inclusive, trustworthy, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities. 

The session reflected the core vision of ICA Regional Hub Thailand 2026, held under the theme “Where Thailand, the Mekong Region, and Asia Bridge Divides and Amplify Voices.” By bringing together perspectives from Thailand, the Mekong region, and Asia, the conference aims to connect regional experiences with global conversations on communication, technology, and social change. 

Hosted by the , 麻豆国产, ICA Regional Hub Thailand 2026 marks the first time Thailand has been selected to host an official Regional Hub of the , one of the world’s leading academic organizations in communication and media studies.