further entrench the state’s control over individual freedoms, particularly affecting women and gender-diverse persons.69 These legal frameworks not only stifle dissent but also exacerbate the oppression of marginalized communities, making it increasingly difficult for women and activists to advocate for their rights. The militarization of state power extends beyond legal repression to include direct violence and intimidation. In Myanmar, the military junta’s ongoing human rights abuses against the Rohingya and political prisoners illustrate the brutal lengths to which authoritarian regimes will go to maintain control.70 Similarly, in Sri Lanka, the government’s rhetoric equating drug use with terrorism in the “Yukhtiya” program has justified mass arrests and state violence, disproportionately targeting marginalized communities.71 These actions underscore the entrenchment of militarized governance in the region, where state power is wielded not to protect citizens but to suppress opposition and maintain the status quo. As these regimes continue to clamp down on dissent, the digital realm has also become a battleground. In Sri Lanka, the 2024 Online Safety Act72 and Bangladesh’s CyberSecurity Act73 are examples of how governments leverage digital tools to silence critics and control narratives. These laws, framed as cybersecurity and national safety measures, allow for extensive censorship and warrantless arrests, further restricting the freedoms of those who dare to speak out. In Thailand, the state’s veneer of commitment to gender equality is shattered by the reality of digital violence wielded against women and LGBTQI+ activists. Under the guise of national security, the Thai government has enabled the use of invasive digital tools like Pegasus spyware to surveil and silence those who challenge the status quo. Women and LGBTQI+ activists, who have been at the forefront of peaceful protests and human rights advocacy, now find themselves targeted not only by state actors but also by coordinated online 69 Human Rights Watch. (2022). Indonesia: New criminal code is disastrous for rights. Human Rights Watch, 8 December. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/08/indonesia-new-criminal-code-disastrous-rights 70 Myanmar Now. (2023, September 26). Authorities retaliate against political prisoners after Monywa prison strike. Myanmar Now. https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/authorities-retaliate-against-political-prisoners-after-monywa-prison-strike/ 71 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2024). UN experts call on Sri Lanka to immediately suspend and review Yukthiya anti-drug operation. OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/un-experts-call-sri-lanka-immediately-suspend-and-review-yukthiya-anti-drug 72 Access Now. (n.d.). Sri Lanka must withdraw the Online Safety Bill. Access Now. https://www.accessnow.org/ press-release/sri-lanka-must-withdraw-the-online-safety-bill/ 73 Amnesty International. (2023). Bangladesh: Government must remove draconian provisions from the Draft Cyber Security Act. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/08/bangladesh-government-must-remove-draconian-provisions-from-the-draft-cyber-security-act/ 29