ensure that procurement aligns with public interest goals. Additionally, subpoena power to access internal government documents, algorithmic design records, and risk assessments is essential to penetrate the opacity that often surrounds partnerships between state and tech entities. Mandatory public hearings and consultation processes should be built into system design and deployment cycles, especially when technologies impact vulnerable groups. To prevent capture by well-resourced corporate or political actors, these governance bodies must be structurally independent, with multi-stakeholder representation, term limits, and stringent conflict-of-interest rules. Strengthen National Cybersecurity Safeguards As digital platforms proliferate across development sectors, from smart farming to health data systems, states must dramatically improve their cybersecurity posture to prevent malicious actors from exploiting weak infrastructure. This includes developing national cybersecurity strategies, investing in cyber defense capabilities, and establishing dedicated institutions or units to oversee risk monitoring and incident response. All public-facing systems, especially those handling sensitive personal data, should undergo regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. States should also foster regional and international cooperation to address transnational cyber threats and ensure that platforms operating across borders adhere to shared security and privacy standards. In fact, ASEAN as a regional body has made strides in developing common principles for governance of digital development. For instance, Framework on Personal Data Protection (2016) and the Framework on Digital Data Governance (2018) that were endorsed at the ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meetings serve as a promising pathway for discussions about regional standard while the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (2024) and its Expanded Guide on Gen AI (2025) have provided some meaningful recommendations to be considered by Member States as guidelines for their digital development agenda. 10