Free and open source knowledge projects rely on a community of volunteers, who tirelessly work towards advancing knowledge and improving access to credible and truthful information. Such work, often with no monetary incentive, is made difficult by those in positions of power. Many APAC countries are unique in their socio-political context, with laws and practices targeting social activists and political opposition. The role, contribution and influence of the state and media in these countries impacts how communities contribute to open source and free knowledge projects, and the challenges that they face.

This presentation aims to discuss factors that make the creation and distribution of information disorders (mis and disinformation) in open source and free knowledge projects, a unique problem in the APAC region. It will also answer how these communities continue to build and maintain these projects, despite the antagonistic ecosystem around them.