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ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship 53. Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia, A Report on The State of Freedom of Expression (FOE) in Malaysia 2023, (10 December 2023) available at: https://cijmalaysia.net/a-report-on-the-state-of-freedom-of-expression-foe-in-malaysia-2023/; Parliament Hansard, Dewan Rakyat Parlimen Kelima Belas Penggal Kedua Mesyuarat Ketiga, (27 November 2023), available at: https://www.parlimen.gov.my/ files/hindex/pdf/DR-27112023.pdf 54. New Straits Times, Man sentenced to over 2 years’ jail for insulting Prophet Muhammad, Islam, (17 July 2020), available at: https://www.nst.com.my/news/ crime-courts/2020/07/609390/man-sentencedover-2-years-jail-insulting-prophet-muhammad-islam 55. Free Malaysia Today, Cops arrest man who allegedly insulted Islam in Puchong, (17 July 2022), available at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/ nation/2022/07/17/cops-arrest-man-who-allegedlyinsulted-islam-in-puchong/ 56. Jurist, Malaysia charges filmmakers with blasphemy, drawing condemnation from human rights groups, (18 January 2024), available at: https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/01/malaysia-charges-filmmakers-with-blasphemy-drawing-condemnation-from-human-rights-groups/ 57. Citizen Lab, Running in Circles Uncovering the Clients of Cyberespionage Firm Circles, (1 December 2020), available at: https://citizenlab.ca/2020/12/ running-in-circles-uncovering-the-clients-of-cyberespionage-firm-circles/ 58. Reporters Without Borders, Malaysian police investigate reporter who covered Covid-19 arrests, (6 May 2020), available at: https://rsf.org/en/malaysian-police-investigate-reporter-who-covered-covid-19-arrests 59. Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera shocked by the response from Malaysian authorities to its documentary ‘Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown’ and worried about the safety of its staff, (9 July 2020), available at: https://network.aljazeera.net/pressroom/ al-jazeera-shocked-response-malaysian-authorities-its-documentary-%E2%80%98locked-malaysia%E2%80%99s; Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera journalists questioned over Malaysia documentary, (10 July 2020), available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/ news/2020/7/10/al-jazeera-journalists-questioned-over-malaysia-documentary 60. The Straits Times, Malaysia raids Al Jazeera and offices of two other broadcasters in probe on documentary, (5 August 2020), available at: https://www. straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/qatar-based-broadcaster-al-jazeera-says-malaysian-office-raided-over-documentary Malaysia 61. Al Jazeera, Outcry in Malaysia as government cracks down on video-making, (23 July 2020), available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/ news/2020/7/23/outcry-in-malaysia-as-government-cracks-down-on-video-making 62. Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera journalists questioned over Malaysia documentary, (10 July 2020), available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/7/10/ al-jazeera-journalists-questioned-over-malaysia-documentary 63. Al Jazeera, Malaysian police raid Al Jazeera’s office, seize computers, (5 August 2020), available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/5/ malaysian-police-raid-al-jazeeras-office-seize-computers#:~:text=%E2%80%9CConducting%20a%20 raid%20on%20our,we%20stand%20by%20our%20 reporting. 64. The 1MDB scandal is a major financial scandal that occurred in Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. It involved the misappropriation of billions of dollars from a state-owned development company, 1MDB, by high-level officials, including former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. 65. BenarNews, Journalist Alleges Malaysia’s Govt Targeting Her For 1MDB Revelations, (11 November 2021), available at: https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/british-journalist-charges-defamation-1mdb-11112021143827.html 66. International Federation of Journalists, Malaysia: Authorities continue criminal defamation case against Sarawak Report editor, (17 November 2021), available at: https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/ malaysia-authorities-continue-criminal-defamation-case-against-sarawak-report-editor.html 67. International Federation of Journalists, Malaysia: Authorities continue criminal defamation case against Sarawak Report editor, (17 November 2021), available at: https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/ malaysia-authorities-continue-criminal-defamation-case-against-sarawak-report-editor.html 68. The guardian, Australian-based journalist Kean Wong arrested in Malaysia for editing banned book, (28 October 2023), available at: https://www. theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/18/ australian-based-journalist-kean-wong-arrested-inmalaysia-for-editing-banned-book 69. Malaysia Kini, Misuse of the Communications and Multimedia Act must end, (1 March 2016), available at: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/332239; Malay Mail, Minister justifies TMI block, says due to contradictory report on MACC panel, (26 Feb- 175

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Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia March 2024

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English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Information Operation
Internet Restrictions

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MANUSHYA

Date Published: Mar 8, 2024

Abstract: Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia March 2024 Whether we like it or not, we are living through a pivotal moment for the future of human rights. This includes the issue of our digital rights, and the question of our online freedoms. In places like Southeast Asia, where the majority of its peoples are experiencing immense threats to their online and offline freedoms, at the hands of opportunistic governments and corporations, this is especially prevalent. The digital space has become an integral part of human life, and is still growing in its influence over our world. Accordingly, if our freedoms in the digital space are endangered, our freedoms overall are endangered as well.

It is understandable to feel powerless while possessing this knowledge. But it is not enough to just know about the forces acting against our human rights, and understand that they are dangerous. If we truly want to create a safer, more equitable, more liberated world - which we all know, deep down, is possible - we must understand these forces, and act accordingly. We must equip ourselves with knowledge about what governments, corporations, and other powers that be are doing, alongside demanding our rights to freedom. The powers that be have weaponised the online and digital space, as well as the law, against the people that these things are supposed to serve and protect. It is our right to protect ourselves with research, knowledge, advocacy, and the power of the people. When we understand the powers we are up against, fighting back will become less daunting.

This is what our report, titled Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia, is for. Join us in powering ourselves with knowledge, in order to compel ourselves to action!

As always, our work is rooted in decolonial, feminist, intersectional values, with historically marginalised people at the centre. Thus, this work was a collaboration between a coalition of groups oriented in these values: ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Free Expression Myanmar, Foundation for Media Alternatives, ILGA Asia, Manushya Foundation, The Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, SAFEnet, Viet Tan, and Women’s Peace Network. What is the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship? The ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship was established in 2020, by human rights and digital rights activists from Southeast Asia, on a mission to decolonize digital rights and restore our online democracies.

Together, we stand in solidarity with one another, with people from the Global Majority, resisting and pushing back against authoritarian governments and complicit tech companies.

We tell our realities from the ground, and we develop solutions together.

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Manushya Report 2024 - FULL REPORT - Book File-compressed.pdf
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Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia March 2024

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