and critics through the law. However, in Singapore, the Protection from Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) is the main law used against critics and opposition politicians, who are ordered by state agencies to “correct” their “false” posts. Records have shown that these critics, journalists, and politicians usually comply. In 2023, however, there has been no record of any individual being jailed for disobeying such orders. In the Philippines, the judicial harassment of critics can result in cyber libel under the 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act. However, other politically motivated cases that does not involve cyber law can also occur. This includes tax evasion or bribery. A notable example is the cases against Maria Ressa, Nobel peace laureate and CEO of independent news outlet Rappler. However, the number of cases linked to political persecution have so far declined under the Marcos Jr.’s administration compared to the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte. Governments have also mobilized cybermilitary or police units, hackers, troll farms, and political or religious networks to launch information operations to counter criticism and harass critics and dissidents. This type 35 36 37 38 of online attacks has been documented in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, often operated in secrecy. Individual pro-regime or progovernment internet users also aid the state to add to the disorder. Often official affiliations are not evident, and it is challenging to prove whether the state is indeed behind massive and organized operations. In Myanmar, doxing of pro-democracy individuals by pro-military users on Telegram has become a new normal since the coup. Doxing, which exposes personal information of the victims, usually leads to arrests and prosecution by the regime. The junta also stepped up its surveillance efforts by introducing the e-ID scheme. In 2023, the military was reportedly asking China for help with the implementation of the system before rolling it out in mid-202435, 36. Another surveillance effort is to require SIM card registration which the junta first announced in 202237. In 2023, the regime announced that those who do not follow the requirement will face a jail term38. In Thailand, online smear campaigns against dissidents who challenge the status quo are also well documented. It is worse when the victims are women. During the 2023 general “Myanmar Turns to China for Census and Surveillance Assistance.” The Irrawaddy, 21 Sep. 2023, www. irrawaddy.com/news/myanmars-crisis-the-world/myanmar-turns-to-china-for-census-and-surveillanceassistance.html. “Surveillance Upgrade: Junta Rolls Out e-IDs.” Frontier Myanmar, 24 May 2024, https://www.frontiermyanmar. net/en/surveillance-upgrade-junta-rolls-out-e-ids. “Myanmar Activists Say Junta Will Use SIM Card Registration to Target Opposition.” Radio Free Asia, 3 Oct. 2022, www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/simcards-10032022211504.html. “Junta Threatens Prison Terms for Unregistered SIM Card Users.” Radio Free Asia, 27 Sep. 2023, www. rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-sim-cards-09272023045517.html. 18