Harris Zainul is a public policy analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. There, he works on the intersection of technology, society and human rights, with a focus on the consequences of mis- and disinformation on democracy and politics. His work has been featured by the World Economic Forum, Financial Times, CNBC, Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post, among others. He holds a postgraduate degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies where he read Southeast Asian politics and an undergraduate degree in law from the University of Liverpool.
Expert
My work on the usage of communication and information/ICTs, particularly that of social media and app-based communication channels, have paved the way for a more nuanced understanding of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation in Malaysian society and the wider region. I consulted the Malaysian government on its response towards COVID-19 mis- and disinformation during the pandemic, and my critique of Malaysian legislations that purport to address "fake news" have resulted in greater awareness of the dangers of over regulation.
Fields of expertise: Communication and information/ICTs
