Asia Centre Presents the Preliminary Results of Cambodia’s Media Landscape Assessment
On 27 October 2023, Asia Centre convened the second meeting of the multi-stakeholder advisory board to present the preliminary findings of its study for the “Assessment of Media Development in Cambodia”. The meeting took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phnom Penh and was attended by 23 participants, including representatives from the relevant ministries, diplomatic missions, media-related CSOs, journalists, and media professionals. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, and Dr James Gomez from the Asia Centre gave the welcome remarks, outlining the importance of using UNESCO’s media indicators to assess the media landscape in the country and also provided an overview of the progress achieved so far in doing such an assessment. In the second part of the session, Dr Marc Pinol Rovira, from Asia Centre, presented the preliminary findings in five parts, one for each category of indicators: media-related regulation; plurality and diversity of the media sector; the role of media as a platform for democratic discourse; professional capacity building and supporting institutions for media professionals; and infrastructural capacity. Then, a question and answer session took place, in which participants could seek clarifications and also had the opportunity to provide their input for the research team at Asia Centre to complete the report. The session concluded with the closing remarks by Mikel Aguirre Idiaquez, UNESCO’s Project Officer, which also included a brief outline of the project’s next steps. After this meeting, the primary data collection process will continue, followed by the drafting of the report. Asia Centre will convene a validation meeting in December, also in Phnom Penh, to present the findings of the report to the members of the advisory board. Upon completion of the project, the report will provide a policy toolkit for government agencies, such as the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and media practitioners to contribute to the development of the media landscape in the country in light of the ongoing developments like the constant and rapid evolution of the digital sphere and the increasing importance role of artificial intelligence. The Centre undertook the assessment in partnership with UNESCO and the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org.
Restrictions on Internet Freedoms: Recommendations for Thai Policy-makers and Civil Society
Download Restrictions on Internet Freedoms: Recommendations for Thai Policy-makers and Civil Society assesses both legal and non-legal measures that adversely affect online internet usage in Thailand. These measures encompass the Country’s Penal Code, Computer Crime Act, Internal Security Act, information operations, and targeted online surveillance. The presence of vaguely-worded laws has facilitated the direct persecution of internet and social media users based on their content and exercise of freedom of expression. Moreover, these laws provide a legal basis for online surveillance and state-sponsored disinformation campaigns against critics. This report analyses the resulting impacts of such measures and offers key recommendations to ameliorate the situation and provides a set of recommendations for the government to improve internet freedoms in the country.
IFSEA End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting Prepares for New Challenges, Strategises for Phase II
At the Internet Freedoms for Southeast Asia (IFSEA) End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, there was broad consensus among the more than 20 participants that more still need to be done to protect digital rights. Three focus areas identified were: advocacy with governments, building coalitions in the region with other like-minded stakeholders, and implementing capacity-building activities. The partners’ meeting took place from 1–3 November 2023, co-convened by Asia Centre and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). It was attended by representatives from the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), Open Development Cambodia (ODC), KRYSS Network, Hadomi Timor Foundation–FONGTIL, and the Timorese Association for Progressive Media and Technology. The meeting marked the conclusion of the IFSEA project that started in 2021, undertaken by ICNL with the support of Asia Centre as the regional partner, and Southeast Asian country partners from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste between 2021 and 2023. The End-of-Project Partners meeting built upon the IFSEA Regional Conference in May 2023 where there were some discussions on forming coalitions and networks. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre and Zach Lampell, Senior Legal Advisor at ICNL, who then presented a recap of the IFSEA project. Both stressed the successes of the IFSEA project, and the need to sustain the impact through continued collaboration. Asia Centre’s collaboration with ICNL has included four baseline studies on internet freedoms in Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Malaysia, published between 2021-2023. Using these findings, the partner organisations undertook research, assessed the current legal frameworks, gave recommendations and carried out other advocacy activities to influence policies in their respective countries. Over two and a half days, the partners discussed their project designs, challenges encountered, lessons learnt, and the impacts achieved. This included reflections on how, where, and whom their projects had impacted. The meeting also looked forward in terms of stating broad objectives, setting priorities and discussing strategies to achieve them. To that end, partners also considered financial resources, expert knowledge, and regional networks to facilitate future project implementation. Concluding the meeting, three key ideas emerged which would frame future activities: Firstly, continued advocacy to revise restrictive legislation and to enact data privacy protection laws, as well as to promote greater – and more inclusive – internet access. Secondly, building a coalition that could facilitate a regional-level engagement. Thirdly, capacity-building activities – for the public, in the form of digital media information literacy; and for civil society organisations (CSOs) to effectively promote internet freedoms and digital rights. This meeting was complemented by a side event on 2 November 2023, a one-day roundtable discussion on “Internet Freedom and Digital Rights in Timor-Leste” organised for Timor-Leste participants. It was attended by representatives from over half a dozen diverse organisations from that country, and aimed to promote dialogue between Timorese CSOs, media, youth activists, and public institutions. Participants discussed the current challenges and practices pertaining to law, institutions and journalism in Timor-Leste. They also addressed the obstacles and strategies concerning information and communication technology, the telecommunications market, and the digital divide within the country. The End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting brought the three-year IFSEA project officially to a close. Partners from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste remained committed to developing and expanding their coalition and agreed to work on joint activities in the future. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org.
Asia Centre Signs MoU with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
On 20 October 2023, Asia Centre and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their existing cooperation and explore opportunities for future collaboration in media and communications-related activities, research and training developments. The signatories were Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, and Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The MoU signing ceremony included an introduction to Asia Centre, and an overview of Asia Centre covering its scope, programme areas, and partners, which were presented by Dr. James Gomez and Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira. Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, who represented UNIMAS, gave a brief introduction to the university and the faculty of Education, Language and Communication. The Memorandum of Understanding is the outcome of a positive partnership between Asia Centre and the Faculty for the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (ADLP) Training of Trainers, which took place this year on 11 March 2023 at the Faculty’s premises. This programme is supported by Google and, in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation, is implemented to promote Media Information Literacy (ToT) training for trainers in Malaysia. This training aims to produce competent trainers on digital and media literacy by providing them with resources on information disorders and tools to combat disinformation. Details of these in-person Master Trainer Trainings can be accessed in this article. Under the supervision and support of the faculty’s Dean, Prof. Dr Ambigapathy Pandian, the ADLP training of Trainers with UNIMAS has successfully produced 15 trainers eligible to become master trainers for the programme, who, in turn, trained more than 2,000 End Beneficiaries this year. The Asia Centre-UNIMAS MOU is part of the Centre’s continuous engagement with Malaysia. Since 2016, the Centre has collaborated with many local universities in Malaysia, as well as academics and human rights activists, to organise roundtable discussions and seminars on Malaysian affairs. A roundtable discussion was held in June 2018 on that year’s general elections in Malaysia, an event that was supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. In April 2019, Asia Centre jointly organised a seminar “Fake News Industry: Developments in SEA & Malaysia”, with the University of Nottingham Malaysia and Gerakbudaya Bookshop. In December of the same year, Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia held the Malaysia launch of the Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award, supported by local partners Gerakbudaya and Orchan Consulting Asia. In October 2021, the Centre co-convened with the School of Media and Communication of Taylor’s University Malaysia a webinar on “Media Ethics and Journalism in Malaysia”, supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. In 2022, following the release of Asia Centre’s and Google’s report Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia: Strengthening Electoral Integrity, the Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taylor’s University Malaysia’s Faculty of Sciences & Leisure Management in September. This was the first MoU with a Malaysian tertiary institution, and was signed prior to the launch of the Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia report, hosted by the university’s School of Media and Communications. The event attracted over 100 attendees. In March 2023, Asia Centre held a few activities to launch its latest Malaysia report, Internet Freedoms in Malaysia: Regulating Online Discourse on Race, Religion, and Royalty. First released online to the public and media in January, it was covered by several media publications and accompanied by an op-ed by Dr, James Gomez, and two podcasts. In addition, the Centre has held consultations and presentations related to Malaysia. In 2017, 11 country reports, including one for Malaysia, were jointly produced with the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB). They were released at the IPPFoRB conference for ASEAN Parliamentarians in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2017. The baseline study Harmony Laws in Southeast Asia: Majority Dominance, Minority Repression was released online in November 2021 as part of the 7th annual Southeast Asian Freedom of Religious Belief (SEAFoRB) Conference. This study reviewed how “harmony” and similar laws in Malaysia and three other Southeast Asian states have limited freedom of religion or beliefs, and also accentuated racial discrimination. Asia Centre’s studies on Malaysia have also been featured in Malaysian and other media such as Malaysiakini, Mashable SE Asia, and the Malay Mail; op-eds by Dr. James Gomez in theVibes.com and the Malay Mail; and podcasts such as on BFM 89.9. Catch the highlights of the ADLP training with UNIMAS in this TikTok video at our Asia Centre TikTok page. If you are interested in collaborating with the Asia Centre, do send an email to contact@asiacentre.org.
Asia Centre & International IDEA: Forecasting Democratic Futures in the Asia-Pacific for 2024
Asia Centre and The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) co-convened the Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2024 Outlook Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-20 October 2023. This was the 2nd Outlook Forum organised by International IDEA, and was attended by more than 20 participants from various INGOs and NGOs, academic institutions, as well as researchers and activists. The Forum sought to explore uncertainties and emerging issues, using foresight methodologies, that may impact the future of democracy in the Asia-Pacific. The welcome and opening remarks were delivered by Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA, and Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre. Leena Rikkilä Tamang thanked the participants, acknowledging the range of expertise gathered to discuss the likely futures for democracy in the region. She said that most changes were slow and incremental, but sometimes there were moments in history that were hard to predict but possible to imagine. Dr. James Gomez spoke on the need to work more with local communities and organisations, rather than have over-reliance on international experts and specialists for policy advice. He also recommended that organisations work with selected partners to build continuity and maintain strong relationships, rather than becoming part of broad coalitions that are witnessing decreasing utility and benefit for their members. Dr. Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment Unit at International IDEA, presented an overview of the organisation’s “The Global State of Democracy 2023” report with these key findings: 2022 was the sixth consecutive year in which overall democratic performance declined; at the same time, participation in democratic processes have increased, which is a hopeful signal. There have also been gains in the fight against corruption. Although there has been stability across the Asia-Pacific from 2017-2022, there was a low level of democratic performance. Respect for civil liberties has continued to decline, and the rule of law has varied greatly across the region. Nevertheless, democratic participation has continued to thrive. This Forum examined five main areas: the future of elections, gender and democracy, protection of civic space, and climate change through the lens of PESTLE factors: politics, economics, social, technological, legal, and environmental. On the first day of the Forum, the participants engaged in mapping signals of change, including exploring how signals “collide” to determine possible futures. The final objective was to interpret which signals were more important than others, and to place them into different categories for further analysis. The second day saw participants delve deeper into the signals and drivers that create change. They then came up with scenarios in order to communicate to others and inform decision-makers about potential changes, risks and opportunities for democracy in the region. This 2024 Outlook Forum was the first time in which in which IDEA and Asia Centre used foresight methodologies to better inform decision-making and agenda-setting processes, with the aim of forecasting and transforming the future of democracy. The concrete outcome of the Forum’s deliberations is envisaged to be in the next Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2024 Outlook report, to be published by International IDEA. This two-day event continued Asia Centre’s engagement with International IDEA. During International IDEA’s inaugural Outlook Forum in Bali, Indonesia in December 2022, Dr. James Gomez delivered a presentation on the rise of disinformation. For more information on International IDEA’s 1st Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum, please visit this link here. Shortly after, on 8 December 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand, the two organisations held a closed-door consultation on ‘Digital Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia’, gathering more than 20 participants from diplomatic missions, UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs and new media experts. At this meeting, Asia Centre and International IDEA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a formal partnership. The MoU paved the way for International IDEA to become a title partner at Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia, held in Bangkok from 23-25 August 2023. International IDEA hosted two panels and a demonstration session, with opening remarks given by Leena Rikkilä Tamang. Asia Centre and International IDEA will continue their work together. The two organisations are discussing joint research ideas and will further deepen their partnership over the course of this year and 2024. Some of this work is aimed to contribute to Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference on Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 21-23 August 2024.
Covid-19 and the erosion of civic space in Asia: An urgent call for democratic vigilance
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many regimes in Asia were already reluctant to promote civic space, fearing that it might empower democratic forces. The onset of the pandemic brought about a troubling shift in behaviour. Under the guise of preventing virus spread, governments justified curtailing these freedoms, disregarding international standards that stipulate restrictions must have legitimate grounds and must not result in breaches of international law.
COVID-19 applications infringed Southeast Asians’ right to privacy during and after the pandemic
In the attempts to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control, Southeast Asia governments introduced contact-tracing applications to help manage people’s movement and decrease the risk of infection. Their enforcement however was met with criticism and concerns over state surveillance and infringement on the right to privacy.
Learning from the Pandemic: Bipartisanship needed for rights protection
In preventing future abuse of power during times of emergency, the Pheu Thai Party (PTP), which leads the coalition government, should exercise leadership and consider the latest amendment to the Emergency Decree put forward by the opposition.
Asia Centre-Radio Taiwan International MOU to Further Media Collaboration
On 25 September 2023, Asia Centre and Radio Taiwan International (Rti), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The aim is to establish a framework to engage in future media collaboration. The signatories were Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, and Ms Cheryl Lai, Chairperson of Rti. The MoU signing ceremony included short introductions to Asia Centre, its research activities, and the upcoming 9th International Conference. These were presented by Dr. James Gomez, Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira, and Ms Lina Salim, respectively. Mr Carlson Huang, Rti Manager of International Languages, introduced Rti to the attendees. Rti is the only international broadcaster representing Taiwan, broadcasting news and programmes in 20 languages globally. In Southeast Asia, it first established a Thai-language service in 1957 and has, over the years, expanded into the region. The Rti partnership with Asia Centre signals a move to go beyond traditional media partners and engage with a regional focal point such as the Centre and reach out to other stakeholders. The MoU was signed following Dr Gomez’s initial visit to Rti’s headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, on 11 September 2023, together with Chris Liu, head of the Taiwan office of Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). The visit was a meet-and-greet session for both organisations to get acquainted with each others’ work. The meeting quickly led to the first partnership with Asia Centre’s co-convening of Rti’s Taiwan Forum in Bangkok on 22 September 2023. The Forum’s theme, “Post-Pandemic Asia’s Prospects”, focused on the best ways to combat the spread of disinformation and information warfare. Dr. Gomez, in his opening remarks at the event, outlined how Artificial Intelligence stands to flood social media platforms with software-generated content, which in turn can spur an exponential rise in disinformation. He said organic and verified content will increasingly become rare and has to be defended. The Asia Centre-Rti MOU is part of the Centre’s long-time engagement with Taiwan. In 2019 Asia Centre had a series of meetings with Taiwanese institutions. These activities included events and meetings to strengthen relationships with Taiwanese think-tanks, universities, and other institutions and to present the Centre’s research on disinformation in Taipei. For his engagement with Taiwan, in 2020, Dr. James Gomez was awarded Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fellowship, to undertake research at National Cheng Chi University. These engagements have continued through 2023. In July, a Taiwanese team participated in the joint Asia Centre-Friedrich Naumann Foundation Hackathon, and in August, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) was for the 8th time a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia, held in Bangkok, Thailand. A photo album of the signing ceremony is available on Asia Centre’s Facebook page. If you are interested in collaborating with the Asia Centre, do send an email to contact@asiacentre.org.
Digital Security and Human Rights Defenders in the Asia-Pacific
Download Full Report Digital Security and Human Rights Defenders in the Asia-Pacific assesses the adoption of digital security tools and measures by changemakers in the region to address online threats that they currently face amid increasing state surveillance. The report highlights the various ways in which changemakers in the region have adopted to the threats: they are evaluating the security of their online infrastructure, increasing ownership of these infrastructures, and adopting secure software and work flows. Nonetheless, changemakers face varying obstacles in adopting online security measures, including complexity of the tools, limited adoption of these measures in the wider sector, cultural/language barriers and technical, financial and human resource constraints. The report concludes with a set of recommendations for changemakers, INGOs, donors, and technology companies to address key challenges that limit the effective implementation of digital security tools and protocols. It points to the need of a multi-stakeholder approach to address digital threats faced by changemakers.