AI, Political Communication and Informational Disorder in Southeast Asia

Nuurrianti Jalli

Format: Print Book

ISBN: 9789815393071

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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.

This book is on the press and will be available for purchase from 27 October 2026.

Format: PB

Number of Pages: 49

Publication Date: 14/10/2026

Imprint: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute