Google and YouTube are expanding the use of information panels to give topical context in countries such as Singapore, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. These panels aim to provide additional information and context from reliable sources when people search for videos on certain topics prone to misinformation, such as climate change. The companies also aim to ensure that access to quality information is always available. In addition, they are supporting fact-checking networks in the region by providing misinformation training for journalists. Over the past several years, they trained more than 177,500 journalists in 17 countries and regions across Asia Pacific.

To address misinformation, Google and YouTube announced a $13.2 million grant to the International Fact-Checking Network at the Poynter Institute to launch a new Global Fact Check Fund. The Fund will support IFCN’s network of 135 fact-checking organizations from 65 countries, covering over 80 languages. This is Google and YouTube’s single largest grant in fact-checking.

Initiatives like CekFakta, a collaborative fact-checking and verification project, have had a significant impact in Asia Pacific. Google and YouTube committed $1.2 million to support CekFakta and Indonesian journalists, fact-checkers, and citizens to fight misinformation ahead of the 2024 election.