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Another prominent case in 2023 is that of Thanalop Phalanchai, a 14-year old, who was charged for lèse-majesté for participating in a social event on October 13, 2022. The event was part of a campaign to release political prisoners, and to also repeal the lèse-majesté law358. Thanalop was arrested on March 28. Police who arrested her were accused of sexually harassing her while trying to retrieve her personal tablet tucked inside her shirt359. The lèse-majesté complaint was filed by Arnon Klinkaew, leader of the ultra-royalist group People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy. Thanalop was placed in a state detention center for girls for 51 days before being released on May 18. While Thanalop was in detention, Arnon continued to threaten her through his Facebook account with further legal action, physical harassment, and a death threat. Upon her release, the ultra-royalist group also doxed her by posting a Google map location and photos of Thanalop’s house360. They also reportedly submitted more lèse-majesté complaints against her361. 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 The People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy is a group dedicated to help crack down on pro-democracy activists, academics, and opposition members since it was founded in September 2020. Its core aims include protection of the monarchy, opposing reform of the royal institution, and blocking any amendment of the lèse-majesté law. The group is often aggressive towards the prodemocracy groups. Information about individual or group supporters are limited. Arnon claimed that there is no sponsor behind the group, and that he used his own money to run the movement362. The group targets both online and offline activities critical of the monarchy. According to BBC Thai, the group has filed over 100 lèsemajesté complaints since it was founded363. Apart from Thanalop, Arnon’s group also filed a complaint against the Facebook page, Kon Klom Kon Liam, a political parody cartoon page in July 2022 and again in April 2023364, 365. Police, armed with a search warrant, then visited the home of the page administrator, known only as “Jirawat” or “October 13, A Campaign to Release Political Prisoners and Repeal the Lèse-Majesté Law.” Prachatai, 13 Oct. 2022, prachatai.com/journal/2022/10/100955. “Timeline: ‘Yok Thanalop’, What the 15-Years Old Activist Has Been Facing?” The MATTER, 18 June 2023, thematter.co/brief/206266/206266. “Leader of the People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy Posted Photos on Facebook Claimed That It’s Yok’s House.” Prachatai, 17 June 2023, prachatai.com/journal/2023/06/104626. “Timeline: ‘Yok Thanalop’, What the 15 Years Old Activist Has Been Facing?” The MATTER, 18 June 2023, thematter.co/brief/206266/206266. “Arnon, Leader of the People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy: Is There Someone Behind Him?” Thai Post, 18 Feb. 2024, www.thaipost.net/articles-news/536540. Srijaem, Jiraporn. “Get to Know the ‘People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy’ Who Filed Over 100 Lèse-Majesté Petitions.” BBC News Thai, 15 Feb. 2024, www.bbc.com/thai/articles/ck563x6j234o. “TCSD Confiscated Electronic Devices of Cartoonist.” Prachatai, 10 July 2022, prachatai.com/journal/2022/07/99429. “The People’s Center to Protect the Monarchy Filed a Petition for Lèse-majesté Against the Satirical Cartoon Page 'Kon Klom Kon Liam’.” Prachatai, 30 Apr. 2023, prachatai.com/journal/2023/04/103887. 96

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Annual Report: Digital Rights in Southeast Asia 2023-2024

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Language

English

Topic

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

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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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