WAVES Declaration adopted at Global Media Dialogue

The WAVES Declaration was adopted on Friday during the Global Media Dialogue, and the member nations agreed to collaborate on giving voice to traditions and heritage. The delegates from 77 countries participated in the Global Media Dialogue at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired the event. The participating countries agreed to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation and promote media integrity, fact-based journalism and responsible advertising. They also agreed to support content that respects human rights and cultural sensitivities while fostering cross-border collaborations to deepen shared understanding. The declaration further acknowledged the critical role of media and entertainment in promoting development and harmony. The member nations also recognised that AI can enhance market efficiency, creativity and audience engagement and seek to ensure its ethical use by minimising harms and reducing biases. The 13-point declaration outlines the shared priorities of participating nations, including:
1.Promote diverse voices and inclusive media ecosystems.
2.Preserve cultural heritage and support public interest content.
3.Ensure affordable, equitable access to media.
4.Boost jobs and inclusive growth for youth, women, and marginalised groups.
5.Encourage innovation, data privacy, and digital security.
6.Support ethical AI use and global content partnerships.
7.Uphold media integrity and counter disinformation.
Speaking at the summit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar described WAVES 2025 as a “microcosm of the global community,” bringing together policymakers, creators, producers, writers, and visual artists to shape a future roadmap for the media and entertainment sector. He underlined the need for synergy between technology and tradition, saying it was vital to “give voice to our traditions, heritage, ideas, and creativity” while equipping the youth with skills for an era of global creative collaboration. “Innovation is key to the leapfrogging that will build Viksit Bharat,” Dr. Jaishankar said. He also highlighted the opportunities and ethical responsibilities emerging from new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). “While AI can enhance market efficiency and creativity, it must be governed by principles of transparency, accountability and inclusivity,” he said.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, in his opening remarks, emphasised the transformative role of culture in driving creativity and connectivity. “Culture inspires creativity, which connects people across borders,” he said. He called for stronger frameworks to incentivise local content creation and international co-productions. “We must turn the global bridge of creativity into an expressway of ideas,” he added.