ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship
to destroy the country and to cause any disorder by
Lao PDR(Laos) Percentage of
Internet and Social Media Users
undermining the unity, creating misunderstanding
and creating antagonistic parties in the country” and
Internet Users
called on all security forces to make efforts against
Social Media Users
such actions.53
100%
There have been numerous cases of individuals
90%
80%
being arbitrarily arrested, detained and interrogated
70%
for reporting alleged wrongdoings by officials.
60%
However, due to repression of domestic media and
50%
the regime’s opaque nature, coverage of such cases
40%
in the country is limited. In March 2020, two residents
30%
of Xiengda village in Vientiane’s Saysettha district
62%
20%
44%
10%
were arrested for circulating a video of a land grab
on social media. They were reportedly subjected to
0%
Prevalence
Total Population
4,7 million
“reeducation” in the district police station.54 A similar
3,35 million
case happened in August 2020 in Champasak where
7,58 million
Sangkhane Phachanthavong, known as Thisi, was
DataReportal, Digital 2023, Laos, (9 february 2023), available at :
https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-laos
Fig. 3.3C: Percentage of Internet and Social Media Users
in Laos, 2023.
arrested and detained for over a month after posting
a video criticising nepotism among the high-level
government officials. He is now on bail and facing
Lao Netizens: Persecuted and Intimidated
for Posting Critical Information Online
charges.55 In a recent 2023 case, a woman was
While Lao people rely on social media as a primary
official, one must pay LAK 95 million ($4,989). The
source of information, individuals remain reluctant
to voice dissent against the government’s oppressive
policies and actions, fearing potential reprisals and
tracked and publicly scolded by the police for an
online post alleging that to become a public security
authorities denied the allegations and labelled the
post as defamatory, followed by a warning to the
public to abstain from spreading false information.56
repercussions.51 Instead of defamation provisions,
authorities have a tendency to opt for slander,
“propaganda against the state,” and “national security”
provisions to stifle online expression, arresting and
charging users who speak up online. Moreover, the
Speaking Out Online Comes at a Steep
Price: Attempted Murder and Arbitrary
Detention
authority frequently threatens online users by warning
Lao authorities primarily target courageous human
them to abide by laws and refrain from posting content
rights defenders who dare to raise their voices
critical of the government. In August 2020, the Ministry
against the environmental and social consequences
of Posts and Telecommunications issued instructions
of development projects. Their dissent is met with
warning social media users against posting content
severe repercussions including threats, arbitrary
or comments criticising the country’s government,
arrests, detentions, enforced disappearances, and
leading to a sudden disappearance of some critical
killings. This systematic repression undermines
articles and comments from social media.
In
freedom of expression and peaceful dissent, fostering
April 2021, president Thongloun Sisoulith warned
an atmosphere of fear and intimidation that erodes
people who “use social media to commit crimes,
the human rights landscape in Lao PDR (Laos).57
Lao PDR
52
129