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In May 2023, TrueVisions, a cable TV service provider, also censored 342 a BBC news interview with then MFP leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, about his party’s election pledge to amend the lèse-majesté law. The interview segment was replaced by blank screen when it was shown in Thailand. TrueVisions has been previously known to block similar outlet content, including negative coverage of the monarchy and the 2014 military junta. The channel was reported to have advertised for a position of a censorship officer who would monitor foreign media news for content incompatible with Thai law343. The Thai Supreme Court also banned a Facebook video about criticism of the local manufacturer of a COVID-19 vaccine on June 15, 2023344. Former leader of the Future Forward Party and now leader of the Progressive Movement, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, posted the video clip, ‘Royal Vaccine: Who Benefits and Who Doesn’t?’, on January 18, 2021345. The clip criticizes the Prayuth government’s vaccine procurement from the Siam Bioscience Company, which 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 is owned by the Crown Property Bureau346. The video was therefore deemed to to violate the lèse-majesté law and the Computer Crime Act347, 348. 4. Threats Against Critics and Political Opposition Among the key lèse-majesté cases in 2023 is the case of the MFP member of parliament, Rukchanok Srinok who was sentenced to six years in prison for two lèse-majesté and CCA offences for social media posts from 2021. Rukchanok’s first message in July 2021 on Twitter was regarding the COVID-19 vaccine procurement, featuring a photo of King Rama X with a word, “tyrant”349. The other post was a retweet of an October 2020 post by another account quoting French philosopher, Denis Diderot, “Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest”. Another case is that of Pannika Wanich, a former MP of the Future Forward Party. The Supreme Court permanently banned her Charuvastra, Teeranai. “Foreign News Coverage of Thai Election Blocked on TrueVisions.” Prachatai English, 1 June 2023, prachataienglish.com/node/10397. “TrueVisions Censored Pita’s Interview with BBC Over the Lèse-Majesté Law.” The MATTER, 30 May 2023, thematter.co/brief/204801/204801. “Court Orders Ban on Thanathorn’s Video Over National Security Concerns.” Prachatai English, 16 June 2023, prachataienglish.com/node/10429. Ibid. “Thailand Defends Royal Company’s Role in Vaccine Strategy.” Reuters, 19 Jan. 2021, www.reuters.com/ business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/thailand-defends-royal-companys-role-vaccine-strategy-2021-01-19. “Thanathorn Arraigned in Court for Lèse Majesté.” Bangkok Post, 11 Apr. 2022, www.bangkokpost.com/ thailand/politics/2293622/thanathorn-arraigned-in-court-for-lese-majeste. “Thailand Defends Royal Company’s Role in Vaccine Strategy.” Reuters, 19 Jan. 2021, www.reuters.com/ business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/thailand-defends-royal-companys-role-vaccine-strategy-2021-01-19. “Sentenced to 6 Years Imprisonment Under Lèse-Majesté Law and Computer Crime Act: Rukchanok Srinok.” TLHR, 14 Dec. 2023, tlhr2014.com/archives/62251. 94

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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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