Dr. Viranjana Herath, Chairperson of the Media Law Forum and Attorney-at-Law, contributed to high-level global discussions on digital governance at the Digital Platform Governance International Conference convened by UNESCO. The conference was hosted at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Speaking at the Regional Roundtable – Asia on Advancing Accountable Platform Governance, Dr. Herath addressed the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence across South Asia, with a focused analysis of Sri Lanka’s regulatory and social landscape.
His intervention underscored:
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The transformative capacity of AI to contribute to inclusive development and strengthen public service delivery.
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The governance gaps and risks associated with AI deployment, including misinformation, electoral interference, threats to public order, online gender-based violence, and intellectual property concerns.
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The urgency of advancing legal reform, enhancing platform accountability mechanisms, and promoting AI literacy and digital literacy as safeguards to ensure that innovation aligns with democratic governance and human rights standards.
Dr. Herath emphasised that accountable platform governance must be grounded in regional realities while engaging with emerging global regulatory frameworks. He further noted that strengthening cross-regional dialogue is essential to building resilient and rights-respecting digital ecosystems.
The Media Law Forum remains committed to contributing to regional and global conversations on digital rights, platform accountability, and responsible AI governance.
