On February 6, 2025, the fifth session of NetMission Academy 2025, titled “Digital Economy and Emerging Technologies,” took place, moderated by Ankita Rathi and Socheata Sokhachan. It convened participants from across the Asia-Pacific region. This session explored key issues related to AI-generated content, biometric surveillance, AI governance models and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Guest speakers Karlina Octaviany (AI Advisor, GIZ Indonesia), James Ong (Founder and Managing Director, Artificial Intelligence International Institute) and Siddharth Goel (Independent Expert in EV and Renewable Energy) provided expert insights on AI’s intersection with environmental monitoring, open-source data, ethical considerations of AI governance models and EV supply chain challenges globally.
A group of participants from Sub-group #5 presented two case studies, the first on the 2024 Telegram Scandal and legislative responses examining the escalation of sexual deepfake crimes in South Korea and the second on AI regulatory models in Singapore and Australia.
The session began with an insightful presentation prepared by Sammakara Mak, Ariba Aleem, and Yashasvani Vashisht, providing an overview of AI, blockchain technology, and IoT’s transformative impact on global economies. It highlighted the private sector’s growing influence in shaping digital infrastructure, raising ethical concerns about AI deployment and the balance between self-regulation and government oversight. The discussion also explored blockchain’s role in enhancing transparency in Indonesia’s agricultural sector, IoT’s potential in advancing smart cities and energy efficiency, and related privacy challenges. Additionally, economic implications such as job displacement and income inequality in an increasingly data-driven world were highlighted.
A critical issue covered in the session was the rise of AI-generated sexual deepfakes, presented in a case study by Oh Ji Won and Au Yi Teng. The discussion focused on South Korea’s alarming surge in sexual deepfake cases, emphasizing the existing legal loopholes that make it difficult to prosecute offenders. Notably, the study revealed a significant proportion of juvenile offenders involved in the creation and distribution of these digital crimes. The presentation highlighted the urgency for greater public awareness, legislative reforms, and stricter enforcement to combat the proliferation of AI-generated sexual deepfakes.
Another key discussion centered on AI governance models explored through a comparative case study by Muhammad Sadeem Hannan and Rohan Sachdeva. The study examined Australia’s risk-based framework, which bans high-risk AI applications such as social scoring and biometric surveillance, against Singapore’s more flexible, industry-led approach, which promotes innovation through non-binding guidelines. This contrast fuelled a broader debate on whether AI governance should be driven by strict government intervention or market-based regulation.
The guest speakers further enriched the discussion with insights into AI’s intersection with environmental monitoring, ethical considerations, and EV infrastructure. Karlina Octaviany detailed Indonesia’s AI-driven deforestation tracking efforts and stressed the importance of open-source data and ethical AI governance. James Ong introduced the concept of AI for Humanity, advocating for responsible AI policies and trust-building within the digital economy. Siddharth Goel discussed the rapid expansion of EVs, the supply chain challenges they face, and AI’s role in optimizing infrastructure, calling for sustainable policies to mitigate the environmental impact of battery production.
In the breakout discussions, fellows explored regulatory solutions for emerging technologies, including AI data intake regulations, ethical frameworks for autonomous vehicles, private sector responsibility in safeguarding user privacy, and AI’s integration into local privacy laws.
Stay tuned for the upcoming NetMission Academy 2025 Case Study Series, where these discussions will be explored in greater depth!
Written by Au Yi Teng, Muhammad Sadeem Hannan, Sammakara Mak and Ankita Rathi.