KUWAIT CITY: Cooperation between all sectors of society remains an “essential” weapon to fight misinformation, says Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th DCO General Assembly in Kuwait recently, Al-Yahya underscored what she considers to be the critical partnership between Arab News and the organization.

During the interview, she also highlighted the organization’s expansion and the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

“Well, this partnership with Arab News is truly significant, especially at this time. The leadership that Arab News showed in stepping up and partnering with DCO shows the real commitment to combating misinformation and disinformation,” Al-Yahya told Arab News.

On Thursday, Arab News became the first media outlet to partner with the DCO in a joint pledge to combat misinformation and mitigate its growing global threats.

“This is becoming a threat to all our societies, economies as well,” Al-Yahya said.

“And it is increasing when it comes to its negative implications, either from a government perspective or also from a private sector perspective,” she said.

“So therefore, we are very much excited to partner with Arab News in providing the right awareness, providing the right frameworks, and also providing the right technologies that can help countries and nations combat misinformation,” she added.

According to the DCO, misinformation erodes trust in governments, media, digital platforms, and markets, which is a core currency of the digital economy. It can trigger financial volatility, damage reputations, disrupt public services, and undermine public health and social cohesion.

Al-Yahya said that if there was one key message she wants stakeholders, officials, media, and private sector partners to take away from the general assembly, it was that “cooperation is essential.”

“No nation can accelerate their growth, or digital economy growth, without cooperation. We have to work together.

“DCO is a platform that brings in governments, private sector, civil society together and makes sure that we convert dialogue into action,” she said.

“The message is, let’s work together, and let’s make digital prosperity for all,” she added.

The DCO general assembly convened in Kuwait City under Omar Saud Al-Omar, Kuwait’s minister of state for communication affairs and chairperson of the DCO council for the current term.

The annual assembly brought together the full digital ecosystem — including ministers from member states, observers, partners, policymakers, CEOs, innovators, and representatives from more than 60 countries — to help shape the global digital agenda.

The theme this year was “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI,” and Al-Yahya emphasized that while AI offers immense opportunities, it was even more critical to unite efforts in bridging the digital economic divide that the technology may create.

“We’re looking at AI right now, and how it’s opening opportunities — $15 trillion, we expect, added to the global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) because of AI,” Al-Yahya said.

“Now that is an abundance of opportunities for countries to diversify their economy. But then, how many countries can benefit? And this is where 70 percent of that number will go to fewer countries, even less than 10 countries.”

“And this is where we have to bridge that gap. And bridging that gap will not come without the commitment, collectively, from member states to share either infrastructure, to share talent and best practices,” she added.

The DCO marked its fifth year since its inception in 2020. It has helped to facilitate social prosperity and the growth of the digital economy through unified efforts with its member nations.

Al-Yahya said the DCO is the first global organization of its kind in the region, and revealed ongoing conversations with Azerbaijan, China, Lebanon, Iraq, Poland, and Palestine in becoming new members.

“It really fills me with pride that it was just an initiative five years ago, and now it is a credible organization where countries are flooding to join DCO.

“And that’s a sentiment of the great power that the secretariat and its team are driving to serve its member states, and also the commitment of the member states to work together, and to cooperate,” Al-Yahya said.

 “It brings me pride. To see DCO grow in five years to be this platform of influence, of power, and of impact, which is most importantly, impact.”

“We do see the outcomes of DCO growing and growing every year. And the speed, agility, is very much appreciated by our member states,” she added.

The event has ended and preparations are now underway for the 2027 general assembly under the presidency of Pakistan.