ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship Lao PDR (Laos) Freedom Ratings The government’s efforts to suppress increasing Despite constitutional provisions aimed at recognising observed in authoritarian regimes across the ASEAN basic rights, Lao PDR (Laos) maintains a consistently region. Despite the rise of digital dictatorship in the poor human rights record. Although Freedom on country, citizens are increasingly vocal about issues the Net data is unavailable for Lao PDR (Laos), the such as the lack of accountability, mismanagement Manushya Foundation, serving as the digital rights of national finances, escalating crime rates, and expert in Lao PDR (Laos), has assessed the digital rampant corruption.31 A telling illustration of this space as ‘not free’. Furthermore, according to the corruption surfaced in October 2022 when Zhao Freedom in the World report by Freedom House, Wei, a notorious casino owner and businessman, Lao PDR (Laos) has consistently been rated as was shockingly awarded a Medal of Bravery “to ‘not free’, with scores of 13/100 in 2021, 2022, and honour his [...] contribution to [...] national public 2023. The political rights score is 2 out of 40, and security.”32 However, Zhao Wei’s true identity as an the civil liberties score is 11 out of 60. Additionally, internationally-recognised criminal, sanctioned by the the country’s 2022 press freedom score of 36.64, US for offences including drug and human trafficking, ranking 161st out of 180 countries, highlights money laundering, and bribery, starkly contrasts with issues in the functioning of media and democracy. the government’s attempt to honour him. Even amidst Unfortunately, the situation did not improve in 2023, such glaring examples of corruption, censorship and with the country now placed at the 160th position intimidation tactics persist, particularly targeting with a score of 36.66. dissenters who dare to challenge the oppressive criticism from the population follow a familiar pattern 29 30 regime.33 PRESS & MEDIA FREEDOM STATUS: Lao PDR 200 situation: the Lao government maintains strict control over the media, abusing its authority to manipulate and suppress public opinion. This misuse of power 172 172 161 160 150 Index Score The country’s freedom ratings highlight a concerning constitutes a serious infringement on the rights and freedoms of Lao citizens. Given this dominance, social media has become a crucial avenue for accessing information for the Lao people.34 Consequently, there 100 is a growing surge of public discontent in Lao PDR (Laos), with individuals turning to social media to 50 voice their opinions. 0 2020 2021 2022 2023 Year Reporters sans frontières, Classement, (n.d.), available at: https://rsf.org/fr/classement Fig. 3.2. Media & Press Freedom (World Press Freedom Index) Rating for Lao PDR (Laos) over the years, 2020-2023 Lack of Freedoms worsened by Soaring Inflation: Lao PDR (Laos) witnessed its first online government protests The country’s deteriorating economic situation, highlighted by an inflation rate exceeding 41%35 in February 2023, presents a particularly alarming trend. It all started in the summer of 2022, when the inflation rate skyrocketed, plunging the Lao people into economic distress. Yet, amidst this turmoil, 124 Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia