ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship Southeast Asian police forces use tactics ranging altogether. Over the past few years, there have from summoning, been some particularly high-profile cases coming and detaining, to physical violence, including from Singapore and Cambodia, where news assassinations. The targets of these tactics are outlets have had their licences revoked based on often people simply trying to express themselves counterfeit claims. threats, stalking, doxxing, freely online, or trying to practise independent, ethical and transparent online journalism, all things that are supposedly recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ironically, it is the police and other armed forces that are the ones committing crimes against international human rights standards, by targeting such individuals. Since the coup, Myanmar has become the world’s second biggest jailer of journalists, behind China.7 Vietnam has forced many journalists into hiding, In some of the cases, those involved with media outlets were targeted as individuals, such as the case of Terry Xu in Singapore—editor of the nowinoperative The Online Citizen (TOC)—who was targeted outside of his involvement with TOC. Many pro-democracy activists, netizens, and prominent figures who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the authoritarian regimes are often targeted by orchestrated efforts to discredit and tarnish their or to flee the country. reputation. While not all Southeast Asian countries State officials also frequently sue independent smear campaigns have been observed in Thailand, media outlets, and sometimes even abuse their Cambodia, and Malaysia. employ this method, state-led disinformation and powers to revoke independent media licences 7. Reporters without Borders, Three years in power, three years of ruthless repression: Myanmar junta steps up terror against journalists, (February 1, 2024), available at: https://rsf.org/en/three-yearspower-three-years-ruthless-repression-myanmar-junta-steps-terror-against-journalists. 16 Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia