KUCHING: Media freedom and ethics must go hand in hand in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure technology is used responsibly and not exploited to spread misinformation.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said while one school of thought advocates absolute freedom based on human rights, another believes such freedom should be exercised within certain limits and guided by ethical principles.
He said the media therefore has a responsibility to exercise sound judgment in balancing freedom with ethical considerations.
Drawing on an analogy shared by Malaysian Media Council’s Deputy Chairman, Premesh Chandran, Abang Johari said striking a balance between freedom and ethics required wisdom, much like a father treating his children fairly despite their different expectations.
“If you have only one child, it is easy for the father. But if you have three children, the question of equitable treatment must be there.
“The father must have the wisdom to treat the three children, because equitable treatment is subject to one’s interpretation.
“One cannot be too free. One must be guided. That is where the question of ethics comes in. This is where the media has to judge,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the third Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC), themed ‘Media, Trust and Governance in a Rapidly Evolving Digital World’, held at Pullman Hotel here today.
Abang Johari said it was up to the media to determine the balance between absolute freedom and limited freedom within an ethical framework.
He said the same principle applies to the relationship between the media and the communities they serve, including in their news coverage and opinion writing.
“That is why the theme, trust, is appropriate. Trust means how you are entrusted with the task given to you.
“It is about relationships, just like the relationship between a father and his children, and between your constituencies through your coverage, as well as the objective when you write columns in newspapers or on social media.
“This is a sort of evolution based on technology,” he said.
Abang Johari said the rapid evolution of technology has transformed the media landscape, with digital platforms and data increasingly influencing the way information is produced, distributed and consumed.
He said the advancement of technology has also given rise to deepfake content and misinformation, making it more important than ever for people to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
“We human beings have to use our own brain to differentiate what is right and what is wrong.
“This technology has a new by-product called deepfake. That’s where AI comes in that can manipulate information and at the same time portray misinformation,” he said.
Abang Johari said AI should be viewed as a tool capable of bringing significant benefits, but one that also carries risks if misused.
“AI is like a knife. In the kitchen, you need that knife for cutting meat, cutting fish, and so forth.
“But if you misuse it, it can kill your opponent. AI today, there must be a certain question of ethics in AI. Freedom and ethics must come together,” he said.
