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2. Information Control and Manipulation Social media continues to be an important factor that helps shape politics in different countries leading governments to implement various strategies for information control and manipulation. The common approaches include crack down on independent media, using cyber armies for information operations, requesting social media platforms to censor content, and restricting internet access. Influencers and civilian internet users are also employed to manipulate information for the benefit of the government. In 2023, states weaponized social media to control and manipulate information. However, the situation has gradually changed over time with the shift in the format and dissemination of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech. The rising popularity of TikTok in many countries in Southeast Asia saw the use of the short video format for narratives to be disseminated across different platforms. In Indonesia, state-sponsored cyber armies have been documented to manipulate information for political advantage on many occasions. In 2023, media reported that these cyber armies, which are known as 6 7 8 “buzzers” in Indonesia, have evolved to become more dynamic6. Artificial intelligence has also emerged in 2023 to play a crucial role in Indonesia’s 2024 general election campaign. The use of AI has sparked concerns on how such content should be regulated, as it can be weaponized for politics. All Indonesian presidential candidates used AI in their political campaign. Most prominently, candidate Prabowo Subianto used the technology to rebrand his image as a “gemoy” (“cute” in Bahasa Indonesia) caricature. As a new platform popular among the youth, TikTok was also crucial for Prabowo’s campaign, as his rebranding was viewed to divert public attention from allegations of his past human rights abuses. Prabowo is a former son-in-law of Suharto, Indonesia’s dictator who ruled for over 30 years from 1968 to 1998. As the Kopassus (army special forces) military commander, Prabowo was alleged to be involved in many human rights abuses including the violent crackdown on a protest at Jakarta’s Trisakti University in May 1998, where four students were killed, and dozens injured. He was also involved in the abduction of 23 human rights activists, in which one died and 13 remain missing7, 8. There was also human rights violations during the Indonesian Kunto, Nisya. “As Indonesia’s Elections Approach, Buzzers Jeopardize Democracy.” Southeast Asia Globe, 16 Mar. 2023, southeastasiaglobe.com/indonesia-election-buzzers. Mao, Frances. “Prabowo Subianto: The Tainted Ex-military Chief Who Will Be Indonesia’s New Leader.” BBC News, 15 Feb. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68237141. “Who Is Prabowo Subianto, the Man Likely to Be Indonesia’s Next President?” Al Jazeera, 16 Feb. 2024, www. aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/16/who-is-prabowo-subianto-the-man-likely-to-be-indonesias-next. 11

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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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