BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. The 2nd Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum, titled "Digital Transformation and Media", has kicked off in Baku, Trend reports.
The forum has facilitated a panel discourse on "Media Partnership in the Digital Age: Joint Initiatives on Information Security".
The panel was moderated by Emin Aliyev, Editor-in-Chief of Trend News Agency.
Addressing the participants, Director General of the National Media Association of Uzbekistan Abduaziz Abutolipov emphasized that fake news is a double-edged sword that chips away at the foundation of trust in both the media and government institutions.
"We live in an era of challenges unprecedented in humanity. Cyberattacks threaten not only individuals but entire countries. Manipulation on social media shapes the opinions of millions. The lack of uniform rules makes society vulnerable.
Kholmurod Salimov, Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan, noted that this is precisely why ensuring information security is our common priority - in the interests of states, societies, and peoples.
“Every state and society, using digital tools wisely, should become an active and responsible participant in the information space. Only then will digital opportunities contribute to sustainable development and the strengthening of international solidarity,” Salimov stressed.
Fazil Novruzov, Chief of Staff of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted that the digital era is defined by rapid technological development and large-scale data exchange, making information security one of the most pressing issues.
The official noted that these tools have really hit the ground running in Azerbaijan over the past few years, with state institutions, media entities, and public organizations rolling up their sleeves and putting their best foot forward.
“In this context, the role of the Media Development Agency, the organizer of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum, should be especially highlighted. The agency’s initiatives in media literacy are currently based on some of the most successful practices worldwide,” Novruzov added.
Director of the Department of International Relations and Documentation of Azerbaijan's Media Development Agency Rasim Baghirov followed to add that information security is currently one of the priority issues.
"In terms of ensuring information security, we can propose preventive and subsequent methods in this area. Preventive measures in this area are the education of the population. We carry out various measures in this direction. Every year in December, we hold a media literacy week and involve teachers, students, and even pupils in this project. This leads to people becoming informed and being able to perceive and understand information more correctly.
Various measures are being held within the framework of the partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. We think that we will continue this tradition. The methods we apply in the information age are changing frequently. Therefore, we need partners like Uzbekistan to maintain synergy," Baghirov added.
