RAIDAR: Combating Information Disorder through Research, Collaboration, and Policy Engagement

On January 1, 2024, The Asia Foundation launched the Researching Asian Information Disorder and Responses (RAIDAR) initiative, a three-year program funded by the International Development Research Centre aiming to strengthen research and responses to information disorder in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The challenge that online information disorder poses to the South Asia and Southeast Asia region is well recognized. While information disorder is not a new problem, the introduction of digital technologies has accelerated the production and reach of information. In Asia, considerable efforts are already underway to understand these new dynamics, their impacts, and how best to respond to the negative impacts of information disorder. However, initiatives tend to be decentralized and remain under-resourced.

Civil society organizations (CSOs), which are at the forefront of this effort, have limited access to decision-makers, especially within tech companies, which are largely based in the United States. Many CSOs are also working with under-resourced languages, making the challenge of using technology like natural language processing to combat misinformation harder.

The continuously evolving nature of technology and the scale of the problem also mean that research methods and responses must constantly evolve. Together, this places a significant burden of upskilling, problem-solving, and learning on civil society working to address threats to information integrity in the region. Recognizing this landscape, RAIDAR is designed to support researchers and practitioners through a threefold strategy.

• Do Research: The Asia Foundation will support researchers based in Asia to lead country-focused and comparative research on the production, reach, and impact of information disorder.
• Build a Community of Practice: In partnership with key civil society and academic organizations, The Asia Foundation will set up an online Research Hub. The Hub will be designed to enable demand-driven peer learning and exchanges on research and responses, consolidate and share resources, and facilitate connections among researchers and practitioners working on this topic in Asia.
• Elevate learnings and engage design makers: Share insights and findings from research and practice with policymakers and targeted decision-makers in tech companies, with a focus on tech and safety teams.

The Asia Foundation is partnering with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and LIRNE Asia, Sri Lanka, to set and lead the research agenda and contribute to the overall design of the program.

For more information about RAIDAR and how to get involved, please contact [email protected]

For organizations or individuals interested to join or know more about the Research Hub please fill out this form.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equity, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

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