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Journalist Kyaw Min Swe222, actress May Panche223, and singers Shwe Yi Thein Tan, and May La Than Sin224 were all shamed and doxed on Telegram before being arrested for participating in the black profile campaign225. Another singer Byuhar226, who posted on his Facebook about the electricity shortages saying that life was better under the elected civilian government, was also a victim of doxing before his arrest in May 2023. Later, a photograph showing him badly beaten up was also posted on these channels227. Meanwhile, actress Poe Kyar Phyu Khin228 posted on TikTok a video titled “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Our True Leader)” leading pro-junta Telegram channels to report her and other people that responded to her post to be arrested229. 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 Doxing targets were also expanded to citizens who live abroad and showed their support to the NUG. Pro-junta Telegram users then demanded that junta authorities not renew their passports230. Their families who remained in Myanmar were also threatened231. Later, after anti-junta forces took control of a number of towns in November, even people who took precautions to withdraw money from banks or fill up at fuel stations also were doxed232. After their experience, they now fear that doing such ordinary activities can get them arrested. Some users in Telegram channels have also been extorted after being threatened with doxing and arrest233. Military officials have also begun to check messaging and social media content as part of regular procedure or even at random. A number of those who have been arrested “Myanmar Editor Arrested Over Social Media Images.” Voice of America, 24 Apr. 2023, www.voanews.com/a/ myanmar-editor-arrested-over-social-media-images/7064137.html. “Online Jewelry Model Jailed by Myanmar Junta for Using Black Facebook Profile.” The Irrawaddy, 12 June. 2023, www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/online-jewelry-model-jailed-by-myanmar-junta-for-using-blackfacebook-profile.html. “Junta Arrests Reporter, Celebrities Who Criticized Deadly Myanmar Military Airstrike.” Radio Free Asia, 21 Apr. 2023, www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/airstrike-04212023164734.html. “Myanmar Junta Uses Telegram as ‘Military Intelligence’ to Arrest Online Critics.” Radio Free Asia, 28 June 2023, www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/telegram-06282023151906.html. “Myanmar Junta Arrests Hip-Hop Artist for Criticizing Power Shortages.” The Irrawaddy, 4 Aug. 2023, www. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-arrests-hip-hop-artist-for-criticizing-power-shortages.html. “Hip-Hop Artist Arrested by Myanmar Junta Being Held in Police Cell.” The Irrawaddy, 30 May 2023, www. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/hip-hop-artist-arrested-by-myanmar-junta-being-held-in-police-cell.html. “Myanmar Junta Uses Telegram as ‘Military Intelligence’ to Arrest Online Critics.” Radio Free Asia, 28 June 2023, www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/telegram-06282023151906.html. Ibid. “Pro-Myanmar Junta Telegram Channels Prey on Public With Threats of Exposure, Extortion.” The Irrawaddy, 22 Nov. 2023, www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/pro-myanmar-junta-telegram-channels-prey-on-public-withthreats-of-exposure-extortion.html. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. 64

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Annual Report: Digital Rights in Southeast Asia 2023-2024

Report

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Language

English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Information Operation
Internet Connectivity / Accessibility
Internet Restrictions

Author(s)

DigitalReach

Date Published: Aug 6, 2024

Abstract: It is undeniable that information technology has significantly impacted human rights and democracy these days. Different governments around Southeast Asia continually attempt to control digital space through, for example, using repressive laws and regulations, forcing social media platforms to follow their orders, and using spyware and similar technology to surveil critics. In Southeast Asia, democracy and human rights have deteriorated because of these attempts, especially for countries under authoritarian regimes.

In order to better understand the situation, DigitalReach publishes annual reports to present and analyze the events and trends around the region. The 2023 annual report analyzes the digital rights situation in eight countries across Southeast Asia—namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam–from January 2023 to December 2023, with glimpses of key updates into 2024, given the timing of its release.

The report format has been changed completely from the previous years. In order to more systematically present the developments observed, the report is organized into three key areas: (1) Legal and Policy Developments, (2) Information Control and Manipulation, and (3) Threats Against Critics and Political Opposition.

From a regional perspective, legal and policy developments in countries that are known to restrict human rights are still mainly about using or coming up with new policies to further suppress human rights in the digital sphere. Countries considered to be more democratic also attempt to change or repeal their laws, but still without a clear sign of improvement toward digital rights.

In terms of information control and manipulation, social media platforms continue to be deployed for political ends, with different platforms serving a specific purpose for each country. The shift toward short video format, TikTok in particular, continued from 2022 to contribute toward information disorder, especially during election periods. The use of video shorts is important when targeting young voters, who played an important role in determining election results in Thailand and Indonesia this year like they did in the Philippines and Malaysia in 2022. State-sponsored cyber armies were also documented, while some governments preferred to assert more effective control of social media platforms. Other important methods related to the flow of information include suppression of media freedom and internet disruptions, which are particularly severe in Myanmar following the 2021 coup.

Judicial harassment is a key form of threat used against critics and political opposition in 2023. It is still common for people in Southeast Asia to be thrown in jail for what they say or do online. Others who do not subscribe to the government’s ideology face online harassment from state-sponsored cyber armies or government supporters. In terms of surveillance, 5 out of 8 countries included in this report have been found to have or are likely to have spyware technology.

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2023-Annual-Report-FINAL-1.pdf
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Myanmar Internet Project

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Annual Report: Digital Rights in Southeast Asia 2023-2024

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