The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping debates around copyright, accessibility, and innovation. In a recent article published in The Hindu, Pranesh Prakash, Co-Principal Investigator for LIRNEasia’s D4D Asia Project, discusses how copyright law must adapt to the realities of AI-driven technologies in a way that balances creators’ rights with the public interest. 
The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping debates around copyright, accessibility, and innovation. In a recent article published in The Hindu, Pranesh Prakash, Co-Principal Investigator for LIRNEasia’s D4D Asia Project, discusses how copyright law must adapt to the realities of AI-driven technologies in a way that balances creators’ rights with the public interest. 
LIRNEasia Data, Algorithms, and Policy (DAP) Team Lead and Research Manager Merl Chandana was featured in ‘The Morning’ newspaper on 28 December 2025, in an article by Nelie Munasinghe, where he underscored the urgency of moving from AI policy discussions to real-world implementation. “The perception that Sri Lanka has not yet widely adopted AI is inaccurate. While it may not be as visible as in other countries through large AI-focused companies, AI is already being integrated across sectors like health, retail, transport, finance, and e-commerce. The potential benefits and risks of this technology are already present. Viewing AI-related risks as a distant concern does not reflect our current reality. 
Reflections on a panel discussion concerning AI and information disorder Across the globe, digital media platforms have exacerbated the intentional and unintentional spread of misinformation. Misinformation, which can be spread both intentionally and unintentionally, has contributed to increased polarization, hateful rhetoric and the deterioration of democratic systems. The development of AI systems may exacerbate these issues, while also creating opportunities to combat the problem. Seasoned voices from the South Asian and African disinformation landscape came together for a panel discussion, held in Colombo, organized by LIRNEasia, titled “Use of AI to Counter the Information Disorder” on July 3, 2025, united by a single question: Can AI assist in solving the very problems it creates? The session, moderated by Merl Chandana (Research Manager and Team Lead of Data, Algorithms, and Policy), focused on the intersection of AI and information integrity in the context of misinformation, especially during elections. 
LIRNEasia participated in RightsCon 2025, the world’s largest gathering of digital rights leaders, held in Taipei and online from February 24 to 27, 2025. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, human rights advocates, technologists, and academics to address the intersection of human rights and technology. As digital landscapes evolve, discussions at RightsCon focused on pressing issues such as data governance, AI regulation, and the future of work—topics that LIRNEasia’s CEO Helani Galpaya, and our Data, Algorithm, and Policy Team Lead Merl Chandana tackled in their panel contributions. Their insights highlighted the challenges facing the Global South and provided actionable strategies for policy and regulatory frameworks. “Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: What Global Research Tells Us” CEO Helani Galpaya participated in two panels.