ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship news” laws, in restrictive and repressive ways, to advance their authoritarian agendas, suppress freedoms and What is the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship? critical speech, silence political opponents, control the flow of information, and attack media freedoms. While national circumstances differed in how the pandemic was governed, the states covered in this report had The ASEAN Regional #StopDigitalDictatorship was Coalition to established in extensive repressive powers and used COVID-19 as a pretext to limit democratic space both offline and online. 2020, by human rights and digital rights activists Further, each country section draws particular attention from Southeast Asia, on a mission to decolonise to cases of online gender-based violence and harassment digital rights and restore our online democracies. experienced by women, including those who are more Together, we stand in solidarity with one another, with people from the Global Majority, resisting and pushing back against authoritarian governments and complicit tech companies. We tell our realities on the ground, and we develop solutions together. susceptible to online violence because of their jobs, race, religion, or identity, such as women activists and human rights defenders, women journalists, women belonging to religious or ethnic minorities, young women, women with intersecting identities (Indigenous, ethnic and minority, migrant women; lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women; women with disabilities). Our truths. Our Stories. Our Solutions. The report concludes with a number of recommendations Fighting back online authoritarianism in Southeast Asia is, and shall always be, decolonial, grounded on feminist values, centred on our voices and our collective power. for the primary actors identified as holding key functions in enhancing the state of digital freedoms in Southeast Asia, specifically that of online expression. Governments, members of Parliament, tech companies, and civil society have–each one to a different extent–a crucial role to play to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms in the digital space. Since civil society civil groups are front and centre in representing the factual Indonesia, Lao PDR (Laos), Malaysia, Myanmar, needs of the people and they can power citizens by Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each providing civic education on human rights, a series of section explains how laws and legal frameworks are recommendations is likewise made to them. People being used to target free expression and information are more likely to resist attempts to suppress their online, censor or regulate content, and monitor online rights if they are aware of them. activities. Each section includes cases of individuals arrested and charged for their online activities, as well Creating a safe internet space for everyone is crucial for as instances of online censorship, monitoring, and promoting inclusivity, respect, and equal opportunities. surveillance. Only together can we foster a more inclusive and respectful internet culture where everyone can engage, express themselves, and participate without fear of discrimination or harassment. None of us are free until we are all free. In each country section, a part is dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 and democracy in the region. Although the pandemic has brought the world grinding to a halt, Southeast Asian governments took it as an opportunity to tighten their grip over civic space and implemented self-serving laws and policies. Under the banner of safeguarding public health, governments exploited emergency powers and other legal tools, including “fake Chapter I. Introduction 31