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Cambodia also expanded monitoring of social posts, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok, as well as messaging platforms WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger in order to control “fake news” about the pandemic88. All these situations indicate the regime’s unrelenting crackdown on the opposition and critics. There is also evidence that activists and their movements are under close surveillance through social media, although methods being used are still unclear. In 2021, Hun Sen crashed a Zoom online meeting of CNRP members, during which he stated that “I have been listening and have entered to listen many times already.”89 Following his surprise intrusion, he wrote on Facebook that he was aware of their activities, and that they are being watched as “Hun Sen’s people are everywhere.”90 Unfortunately, Hun Sen’s use of social media platforms to threaten critics can continue as he was not held accountable in any platform. However, as the premiership has been passed to his son Hun Manet, it is worth watching whether these patterns of repression, harassment and surveillance will continue. During 2023, it was reported that the government allocated around 1 million USD to implement facial recognition technology in the country. The award for this contract went to HSC, a company that has close ties to the government91, and which runs the system for national ID cards, border checkpoint technology, and the CCTV cameras in Phnom Penh 92 . In 2022, surveillance drones were also reportedly deployed on protests in the city93. 88 89 90 91 92 93 “Cambodia Expands Monitoring of Social Media to Private Messaging Apps, Citing Fake News.” The Cambodia Daily, 18 Feb. 2021, english.cambodiadaily.com/news/cambodia-expands-monitoring-ofsocial-media-to-private-messaging-apps-citing-fake-news-172150. “Cambodia PM Says He Crashed Opposition Zoom Talk to Warn ‘Rebels.’” Radio Free Asia, 16 Sept. 2021, www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hunsen-zoom-09162021191746.html. Sokheng, Pa, and Seng Thai. “Hun Sen Crashing CNRP Zoom Meeting Was Not a Digital Fabrication.” VOD, 16 Sept. 2021, vodenglish.news/hun-sen-crashing-cnrp-zoom-meeting-was-not-a-digital-fabrication. Kelliher, Fiona. “Cambodian Facial Recognition Effort Raises Fears of Misuse.” Vioce of America, 15 June 2023, www.voanews.com/a/cambodian-facial-recognition-effort-raises-fears-of-misuse-/7138262.html. Ibid. Chandran, Rina. “FEATURE-Activist Fear Rising Surveillance From Asia’s Digital Silk Road.” Reuters, 19 Sep. 2022, reuters.com/article/idUSL8N1WD0DP. 33

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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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Myanmar Internet Project

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Annual Report: Digital Rights in Southeast Asia 2023-2024

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