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#StopDigitalDictatorship
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
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IN  SOUTHEAST ASIA, THE INTERNET IS NO LONGER A FREE, SAFE AND SECURE SPACE FOR EXPRESSION.

Weaponizing or misusing laws, policies and actions, governments in the region are monitoring the internet, to censor any information seen as a threat or criticism of the government and its policies.

Internet providers and tech companies are also being forced to assist governments in online surveillance and information takedowns. These have an effect of creating an environment of fear and self-censorship in these countries.

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THREAT & INTIMIDATION

ARBITRARY ARRESTS

PROSECUTION & PUNISHMENT

With violations to online freedom, online privacy, and access to information; democracy is being lost to authoritarianism. Now more than ever, it is important to join forces to fight against digital authoritarianism in Southeast Asia.

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highlight the legal challenges to digital rights in ASEAN, while presenting their impact on netizens

Through this campaign, we will:

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propose strategies to fight back digital dictatorship as shared by leading voices working on the ground

ASEAN COMMON CALL TO ACTION:

#StopDigitalDictatorship in Southeast Asia! 

To restore our online democracy in Southeast Asia, a ‘Common Call to Action’ emerged among Manushya Foundation’s partners calling on all governments to address 5 of the biggest challenges to digital rights. This is the first step in bringing together ASEAN community leaders working for digital rights on the ground, to amplify our collective goal and build momentum in the fight against rising digital dictatorship by governments in the region.

End of 2020, we officially launched a Campaign to #StopDigitalDictatorship in Southeast Asia to fight against rising digital dictatorship in the region, where the internet is no longer a free, safe, and secure space for expression. Founded and coordinated by Manushya Foundation, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship brings together local and regional voices, including the ALTSEAN-BurmaCambodian Center for Human RightsELSAM (Indonesia), Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA, Philippines), Free Expression Myanmar (Myanmar), ILGA Asia (Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), SAFEnetThe 88 Project (Vietnam), and Women’s Peace Network (Myanmar). We work together in the ASEAN to: 

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  1. Denounce rights violations taking place in the digital space and provide governments, policy-makers, businesses, and civil society with key recommendations to uphold online freedom of expression and privacy rights. We do so via joint statements, research and analysis to inform UN human rights reviews and UN Special Procedures thematic reports, joint research on emerging digital rights issues, and joint campaigns to hold governments and businesses into account.

  2. We raise awareness and build capacity on digital rights via joint webinars, joint online workshops, and by joining international digital rights forums to tell the world what’s happening in our digital space in Southeast Asia.

Join our campaign and take a look at work done by the ASEAN Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship!

DAWN OF DIGITAL DICTATORSHIP: WEAPONIZING THE LAW AGAINST ONLINE SPEECH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

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On March 12, 2024, The ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship boldly confronts digital oppression in Southeast Asia with the release of their inaugural report. Comprised of ALTSEAN-Burma, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Free Expression Myanmar, the Foundation for Media Alternatives, ILGA Asia, the Manushya Foundation, Project88, The Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, SAFEnet, and the Women’s Peace Network, it exposes the ruthless assault on our online freedoms for the past four years. Every day, individuals tirelessly fight to ensure our digital rights, but at what cost? They face threats, judicial harassment, and even death in their relentless pursuit of freedom for all of us, you included! Dawn of Digital Dictatorship: Weaponizing the Law Against Online Speech in Southeast Asia not only urgently summons collective action to protect our online freedoms but also represents a united resolve for a brighter tomorrow. This marks a pivotal moment in history. Will you stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this crucial battle, imperative for protecting our rights and ensuring those of future generations?

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Access our Joint News Release here

Watch the soft launch of our coalition report here

Read more about our report through our various blog and social media posts below! 

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OVERVIEW OF DIGITAL RIGHTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

In recent years, Southeast Asia has seen a surge of draconian laws that govern how our freedoms are exercised in the digital space. The internet has given states a previously unseen power to stem the flow of information, and censor, surveil, intimidate, and criminalize people and dissenting voices for their online activities.

Through vague and expansive laws that criminalize legitimate online speech and grant governments sweeping powers over our digital space and communications, people’s right to freedom of expression is infringed. Lèse-majesté, sedition, defamation, hate speech, and fake news are just a few of the offenses invoked to threaten and punish individuals for speaking the truth and exercising their right to freedom of expression online. 

 

Additionally, using the internet can make people vulnerable to their rights being violated and mistreated. This includes their right to privacy and safety, whether it is from state authorities surveillance or companies using their personal information for multifold purposes. In Southeast Asia, where privacy and data protection are not adequately safeguarded, this gives rise to significant human rights concerns. Internet providers and tech companies are also pressured by governments to assist them in monitoring online activities. Oftentimes, they comply with governments’ requests for censorship and surveillance, thereby helping governments to advance their undemocratic agendas. 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital repression intensified as governments imposed unprecedented restrictions to online civic space. 

 

In this battle of the governments to control online space, human beings are the ones suffering the most, and human rights have become the main casualties. 

CHECK OUR JOINT WEBINARS ON THE MOST PRESSING DIGITAL RIGHTS ISSUES IN ASEAN

RIGHTSCON 2023

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On June 6, 2023, Manushya Foundation, Freedom House, and Free Expression Myanmar (FEM) hosted the “Digital repression and resilience across Southeast Asia” session as part of RightsCon 2023. Together with leading activists and experts, we looked at threats to and opportunities for digital rights across the region.

Click here to see the recap!

RIGHTSCON 2022

On June 8, 2022, Manushya Foundation, Article 19, and Access Now hosted the “Thailand: Authoritarianism Rising” talk show as part of RightsCon 2022. It was a comprehensive discussion on the topic of security, censorship, surveillance, legal apparatus, and the right to privacy in the country.

Several human rights and digital rights experts gathered to talk about the Thai context in which people’s everyday lives are constantly under surveillance, and where the state itself employs spyware to monitor the country’s citizens. Further problems were debated, such as the newly enacted PDPA and its potential impact on Thailand’s society and lastly, the racially- and politically-motivated surveillance in Thailand’s Deep South provinces. 

Access the summary of the conversation here.

Check the video of the session below

On June 13, 2022, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship hosted a session titled “How Can The Global South Protect Itself From Unchecked AI Ethics and Data Protection,” as part of RightsCon 2022.  The fruitful discussion shed light onto the challenges posed by the AI in a society where regulations are scarce and human rights are at risk of being violated. Our panel consisted of human rights activists and #DigitalRights defenders, out of which some highlighted the need for Thailand to develop a comprehensive legislative framework addressing the use of AI, as well as Meta’’s complicity in the spread of hate speech against Rohingya people. Others emphasized the dangers of sexist AI algorithms and automation, including the negative impact of AI on LGBTIQ+ people in the Global South. 

 

Access the summary of the conversation here.

Check the video of the session below

INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

On Monday, 2 August 2021, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship held a webinar with the topic “Can We Live Without the Internet? Internet Shutdowns in Southeast Asia Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. This webinar discussed one of the most salient problems in our digital age: internet shutdowns.

During the session, leading voices working on the ground in Southeast Asia shared how several governments in Southeast Asia have disrupted internet connectivity or even cut off internet access prior to and amid the pandemic to crack down on free expression and control the flow of information. The implementation of internet shutdowns has been seen in Indonesia and Myanmar in recent years, restricting people’s digital rights and putting their lives in danger.

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RIGHTSCON 2021

BANGKOK, Thailand - On 9 June 2021, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, led by ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), ELSAM, Manushya Foundation, PEN International, and SAFEnet, hosted a Talk Show “Online Freedom under attack: Weaponizing misinformation, disinformation and ‘fake news’ for censorship in Southeast Asia” as a part of #RightsCon 2021 to discuss the weaponization of state-sponsored disinformation and the so-called fight against ‘fake news’ to silence critical voices, by sharing how governments are abusing laws and the COVID-19 pandemic to crack down on critics, restrict online freedom and infringe on the right to privacy in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand. During the Talk Show, leading voices and #DigitalRights Defenders discussed challenges and provided human-centred solutions to build solidarity and protect the digital space from authoritarian attacks.

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WEBINAR - WHRDs IN THE DIGITAL SPACE: REALITIES & SOLUTIONS TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER FREELY

BANGKOK, Thailand - On 25 March 2021, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship led by ALTSEAN Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), ELSAM, Manushya Foundation, PEN Myanmar, and SAFEnet, hosted a live webinar “Women Human Rights Defenders in the Digital Space: Realities & Solutions to Speak Truth to Power Freely” to discuss the challenges women human rights defenders have faced online and how they found a way to fight back, resist and respond to it.

Access the summary of the conversation here.

WEBINAR - MYANMAR'S DIGITAL COUP: WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESIST?

On 18 February 2021, the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship led by ALTSEAN Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), ELSAM, Manushya Foundation, PEN Myanmar, and SAFEnet, hosted the “Myanmar’s Digital Coup: What can we do to resist?” live webinar to discuss the digital dictatorship imposed on netizens, media outlets, internet service providers and social media platforms by the military coup in Myanmar.

 

Access the summary of the conversation here.

RIGHTSCON 2020

On 31 July 2020, Manushya Foundation and PEN international hosted a panel session titled, 'Will democracy survive ‘national security’ in the digital space of Southeast Asia?' at RightsCon 2020.

During the session, leading voices working on the ground in Southeast Asia shared how civic space in this region is being threatened by governments misusing 'national security' to pass anti-democratic laws and restrict online freedom, while pressuring tech companies to assist them in online surveillance.

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CHECK OUR JOINT UN SUBMISSIONS ON DIGITAL RIGHTS

Joint Submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age: Mass surveillance, Digital Contact-tracing, Social Media Monitoring, and Data Requests in Southeast Asia

In June 2022, Manushya Foundation and the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship​​ submitted a Joint Submission to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to inform the report on the right to privacy in the digital age at its 51th session in 2022.

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Joint Submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Human Rights Due Diligence, Tech Sector Responsibilities and Business Transparency

In February 2022, Manushya Foundation together with the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship​​ submitted a Joint Submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to inform the High Commissioner report on the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the activities of technology companies, to be presented at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2022.

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Joint Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression: Freedom, Independence, Diversity of Media and the Safety of Journalists in Southeast Asia

In January 2022, Manushya Foundation and the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship​​ submitted a Joint Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, to inform her report on the issue of opportunities, challenges and threats to media in the digital age to the Human Rights Council at its 50th session in June 2022.

Joint Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection

CHECK OUR JOINT SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS TO RESTORE OUR ONLINE DEMOCRACY & SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS CRIMINALIZED BY THE WEAPONIZATION OF CYBER LAWS!

JOINT SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS

Confronting the Influence of Online Hate Campaigns in the Forced Expulsion of Rohingya from Indonesia

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, ILGA Asia, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with all Rohingya refugees. We call on the Indonesian Government to fulfill their international and domestic obligations by actively protecting Rohingya refugees who are currently seeking shelter and protection in Aceh, such as in Sabang, Pidie, Bireuen, and other regions of Indonesia. The need for their protection has heightened, now more than ever, particularly after the protests and targeted attacks of Wednesday, 27 December 2023 at a Rohingya shelter, staged by a small mob of Acehnese students.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Unmasking Digital Oppression: Second Revisions to Indonesia's EIT Law Fuelling Online Repression

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stands in solidarity with the Indonesian civil society. We call the Indonesian Government to postpone the revision of the Second Amendment to the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (EIT Law) until all problematic articles, especially those pertaining to defamation, hate speech, and false news, are thoroughly discussed. It is crucial to address these concerns comprehensively to ensure that they no longer pose a significant threat to the core principle of freedom of expression, avoiding potential violations of human rights and suppression of dissenting opinions.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Defending Digital Freedom: ASEAN Coalition Confronts Laos’ Social Media Clampdown

 

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with Lao people whose right to information is, once again, being deprived by censorship.In early August 2023, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) revealed that it would regulate the use of social media within and outside the country's borders. This measure aims to maintain societal order and address the issue of foreign media outlets that disrupt the harmony, portray misrepresentation or criticize the Lao government's activities.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Silencing Voices, Sacrificing Privacy: The Menace of Vietnam's Draft Decree on Social Media Verification


We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stands in solidarity with the Vietnamese population whose right to privacy and to freedom of expression are  gravely  endangered by the drafted Decree Number 72/2013/ND-CP, proposed by the Ministry of Information and Communications. This decree is a tool that will turn the online space into an intrusive realm of surveillance and control by requiring social media accounts to be verified with real names and contact information.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Indonesia: Stop Using Pegasus to Scare People into Silence

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with activists and other victims of Pegasus spyware targeting, and call on the Indonesian government to immediately cease and ban the use of targeted digital surveillance technologies. The use of such technologies violates our fundamental rights and attacks the universally-protected rights to freedom of expression and access to information, privacy, peaceful assembly and association; consequently, sending a chilling effect to  civil societies and the broader civic space.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Democracy in Peril: Cambodia Faces Election Manipulation through Controlling Online Information by an Oppressive Regime

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with independent media and call on the government of Cambodia to reverse its pre-election decision to block critical media websites and a public database, Kamnotra Database.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

Cambodia: Reverse Voice of Democracy's closure and ensure an enabling environment for independent media outlets

We, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with independent media, and call on the government to reverse its decision to revoke the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), the leading bastion of independent journalism in Cambodia. We condemn the government’s grip on independent news outlets and ongoing digital dictatorship, which undermine free press and hinder the flow of information in the country ahead of the upcoming elections. We also condemn the avalanche of misogynistic abuse against a female VOD journalist.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Thailand: Scrap New Decree Aimed to Control Online Discourse
 

On 5 January 2023,​ we, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, ELSAM, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Free Expression Myanmar, ILGA Asia, SAFEnet, The 88 Project, and Women’s Peace Network, as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with netizens, civil society and service providers in Thailand and call for the revocation of Ministerial Notification of Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) re: Procedures for the Notification, Suppression of Dissemination and Removal of Computer Data from the Computer System B.E. 2565 (2022), hereinafter referred to as “ministerial decree”, which entered into force on 25 December 2022. We condemn the administration of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s ongoing digital dictatorship, which threatens online freedoms and has kept millions of netizens from expressing their views about those in power and revealing the truth behind #WhatsHappeningInThailand.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Dear Indonesia: Wadas Villagers have the right to protest and to access the internet!

 

On 14 February 2022, Manushya Foundation, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), and Women’s Peace Network (Myanmar) as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship stand in solidarity with the andesite mine protesters of Wadas Village, Central Java, Indonesia. The protests are a legitimate exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly by the local residents, and should therefore be protected by the law. We condemn the Indonesian authorities’ violent response which took place on 8-9 February 2022, and the arbitrary arrests of Wadas Village residents and citizen journalists. The authorities must stop investigation of three residents on allegations of spreading hoaxes which disrupt public order, given that they were merely reporting real events which took place during the unrest. We also call for an immediate investigation into the indication of an internet shutdown in Wadas Village, and denounce any attempt to limit internet access and restrict the free flow of and access to information online within the area.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Indonesia: Government should end the judicial harassment and immediately withdraw arbitrary charges against defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar

 

On 23 September 2021, Manushya Foundation and the endorsing organizations call on the Indonesian government to amend all repressive laws and legal provisions that hinder the protection of freedom of expression, and ensure the laws align with international human rights standards. The criminalization of defamation is an inherently disproportionate and unnecessary restriction to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, under international human rights law. Indonesia must immediately drop the charges against Fatia and Haris and take steps towards preventing the misuse of litigation against human rights defenders and civil society that erode the exercise of their rights. 

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Indonesia: Stop Abusing Cyberlaw and Criminal Defamation to Harass Human Rights Defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar & to Stop Them from Speaking Truth to Power

On 21 September 2021, Manushya Foundation, Access Now, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), PEN International, and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with the human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti, Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), and Haris Azhar, Executive Director of Lokataru. We call for immediate action to ensure Indonesian authorities do not abuse Indonesia’s criminal defamation and cyber laws to harass and silence these human rights defenders, who exercised their right to freedom of expression to unveil the realities behind the Indonesian military involvement in the gold mining industry in the Blok Wabu area of Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Thailand: Stop Weaponizing 'COVID-19' to Censor Information “Causing Fear” and Crack Down on Media and Internet Service Providers

On 4 August 2021, Manushya Foundation, Access Now, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), PEN International, and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with independent media, civil society and internet service providers in Thailand and call for an immediate repeal of the Regulation No. 29, requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to check the IP addresses of online users who post any news or information that ‘may create fear among the people’ concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and to suspend their internet services. We condemn the administration of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s ongoing digital dictatorship, which threatens online freedoms and hinders independent media from revealing the truth behind #WhatsHappeningInThailand.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Indonesia: Call on Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to Suspend the Implementation of Permenkominfo No. 5/2020 (MR5/2020)
 

On 28 May 2021, Manushya Foundation and the undersigned organizations call on Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to repeal Ministerial Regulation 5/2020 (MR5) that is deeply problematic, granting government authorities overly broad powers to regulate online content, access user data, and penalize companies that fail to comply.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Laos: The Lao Government Must Stop Online Surveillance and Mandatory Registration of Social Media Platforms


On 28 May 2021, Manushya Foundation, Access Now, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), PEN International, and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship, stand in solidarity with independent media and citizen journalism in Laos. We call for an immediate repeal of a recent order for provinces to keep records of official social media channels and to enforce social media registration, as well as an end of an online monitoring special taskforce, aimed at controlling the spread of “fake news” concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. We condemn the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Government for its attempt to impose a digital dictatorship on the rights and freedom of Lao people and free media to prevent them from critical reporting and free expression.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Myanmar: Military must restore democratic rights & freedoms of all citizens, offline and online

 

On 2 February 2021, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), Manushya Foundation, PEN Myanmar, and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), as the ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship released a Joint Solidarity Statement to #SaveMyanmar and #StopDigitalDictatorship in the country.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

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Thailand: Stop Digital Dictatorship Over Online Freedom

 

On 25 October 2020, Manushya Foundation, Access Now, ALTSEAN-Burma, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), PEN Myanmar, and Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) released a joint solidarity statement calling on the Thai government to end its control over the digital space by attacking media freedom, tech companies and anyone telling the truth about pro-democracy protests online.

Access the joint solidarity statement here

Joint Statement - #StopDigitalDictatorsh

OUR VOICES

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN!

Join Manushya Foundation and our Southeast Asia partners as we champion a free, safe & secure internet for all!

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Join our campaign and fight against digital dictatorship in Southeast Asia by sharing our posts using #StopDigitalDictatorship on social media and tagging us so we can add you to the campaign

Take a picture with our designed hashtag #StopDigitalDictatorship that you can find above and share it on social media

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Use the hashtag #StopDigitalDictatorship in social media posts that highlight the violation of digital rights in Southeast Asia, to show rising digital authoritarianism in the region

Download the Campaign Concept Note and share it to help fighting against rising digital dictatorship!

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