METHODOLOGY T his report presents the situation in eight countries in Southeast Asia from January to December 2023 by gathering media coverage, reports, and other materials that are relevant to digital rights. Different sources are compared to each other as part of our verification methods. The information is then analyzed based on the international human rights framework to indicate the directions of the digital rights situation in Southeast Asia. As the term digital rights can be broad, it is used in this report to mean human rights that are related to technology and digital space. This report is based on the work of Digital Reach on the influence of technology on human rights and democracy in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The presentation of the digital rights situation in each section of this report is divided into three areas, including legal and policy developments, information control and manipulation, and threats against critics and political opposition. Taken together, these three aspects comprehensively assess the impact of technology on human rights and democracy in the region. Legal and Policy Developments present observations on existing and emerging laws and legislation related to digital rights. Information Control and Manipulation covers how each state and its agents and/or allies direct the narratives about politics and governance for their own advantage, including restrictions of internet connectivity and applications, mobilization of online support through state-sponsored groups, trolls and cyber armies, and regulation of the operations of media and social media platforms. Threats Against Critics and Political Opposition are observations on each state’s use of laws and legislation, harmful and invasive technologies including spyware and other surveillance technology, and information technology-related methods to harass and harm persons who criticize or oppose the government or the regime.

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