Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), represented Bahrain at the 3rd edition of the Digital Government Forum and the 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), both held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The forums were organized by the Saudi Digital Government Authority (DGA) and the United Nations, respectively.
At the Digital Government Forum, held under the theme “Our Future is Now,” Al Qaed attended the opening ceremony, which was marked by significant participation from senior officials, digital experts, and government representatives from Saudi Arabia. He extended his congratulations to His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Suwaiyan, Governor of the DGA, praising the event’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in digital transformation, fostering competition, and promoting technological innovation.
Al Qaed also participated in the opening of the 19th IGF, where he contributed to the panel discussion titled “Navigating the Misinformation Maze: Strategic Cooperation for a Trusted Digital Future.” During the discussion, he addressed the growing issue of misinformation, attributing its spread to individual behaviors and the high level of trust placed in new media, particularly social media platforms. He underscored the speed at which information circulates compared to traditional media and noted the difficulty of controlling misinformation once it has spread, especially when it is widely believed to be true.
Al Qaed shared insights on Bahrain’s response to misinformation during the pandemic, highlighting how the government utilized official, reliable sources through the social media accounts of relevant ministries to counter rumors and provide accurate information. He emphasized the negative impact of misinformation on social media and urged the public to rely on trusted sources such as official government accounts and national media.
Additionally, Al Qaed outlined Bahrain’s framework for balancing regulation and freedom of speech, noting efforts in enhancing cybersecurity, monitoring illegal activities, countering disinformation, and implementing a national strategy. He also discussed Bahrain’s use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect misinformation and the country’s proposal for GCC-wide AI guidelines aimed at combating fake news. Al Qaed called for global cooperation between governments, organizations, and tech companies to ensure the ethical use of technology.
Al Qaed also highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to fostering collaboration among the public and private sectors, civil society, and media organizations. He emphasized the importance of joint initiatives focused on fact-checking, combating misinformation, and raising awareness, all of which contribute to building public trust and promoting sustainable digital solutions in Bahrain.
The 19th IGF saw participation from over 10,000 people across 106 countries, with 1,000 international speakers and 300 workshop sessions. Key topics of discussion included harnessing innovation, balancing risks in the digital space, enhancing digital contributions to peace and sustainability, advancing human rights and inclusion, and improving digital governance. The forum facilitated the exchange of knowledge at both regional and international levels, identifying best practices and supporting the long-term goals of sustainable internet governance.
