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ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship 2018), available at: https://www.theguardian.com/ world/2018/feb/09/cambodian-leader-hun-sen-facebook-likes-subject-lawsuit-sam-rainsy; Phnom Penh Post, Rainsy charged with defamation, (18 June 2020), available at: https://www.phnompenhpost. com/national-politics/rainsy-charged-defamation; U.S. Department of State, Cambodia 2020 Human Rights report, (6 March 2020), available at: https:// www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CAMBODIA-2020-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT-1.pdf 33. Radio Free Asia, Cambodian court convicts opposition figures for Facebook comments, (24 October 2023), available at: https://www.rfa.org/ english/news/cambodia/opposition-figures-convictions-10242023164005.html 34. Khmer Times, NEC files lawsuit against LDP first vice-president for defamation, (8 December 2020), available at: https://www.khmertimeskh. com/50790521/nec-files-lawsuit-against-ldp-firstvice-president-for-defamation/; Khmer Times, LDP to submit petitions to embassies over voter registration irregularities, (31 December 2020), available at: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50799263/ ldp-to-submit-petitions-to-embassies-over-voter-registration-irregularities/ 35. Khmer Times, CP commune deputy chief fined $1,250 for defaming CPP, (30 August 2022), available at: https://www.khmertimeskh. com/501140928/cp-commune-deputy-chief-fined1250-for-defaming-cpp/ 36. 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Voice of Democracy, Analyst Kim Sok summoned by court to comment on charges of defamation and incitement, (12 November 2020), available at: Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia

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

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

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