9th International Conference (2024) Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback
From 21 to 23 August 2024, Asia Centre convened its 9th International Conference on “Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback”. Held on-site at the Pullman G Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, the event brought together 120 participants from 27 countries, including members of INGOs, civil society organisations (CSOs), policymakers, and academics. The conference provided a platform for these stakeholders to discuss the challenges to civic space across the region, focusing not only on the difficulties that many actors currently face but also on their stories of resilience and resistance. Against the backdrop of increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly, the conference created a vital space for sharing strategies and fostering collaboration in the ongoing efforts to defend and expand civic spaces in Asia. Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference was supported by six title partners: the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), Radio Taiwan International (Rti), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and Counterpart International. The conference also featured six panel partners: the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD); Thuraisingam International (Singapore); International Republican Institute (IRI); School of Humanities and Social Sciences of La Trobe University (Australia); Pacifica G.K. (Japan); The Asia Foundation; and the Media Studies and Journalism Department at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). One workshop on digital security was also delivered. This initiative by the Asia Centre, supported by Google, is part of a region-wide project implemented by the Centre to roll out digital security training to high-risk users in twelve countries in the Asia-Pacific. A total of sixteen panels were organised during the conference, featuring 70 speakers, with a gender distribution of 60% male and 40% female. On the evening of 21 August, Dr James Gomez, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, welcomed all title and panel partners, panellists, and participants to Bangkok before chairing the inaugural discussion and first plenary session of the conference, Panel 1 of the conference, hosted by Radio Taiwan International (Rti). The panel highlighted the rising importance of global collaboration and solidarity in defending small democracies like Taiwan and Ukraine against authoritarian threats using soft power, art and culture, and supporting their fight for self-determination through inclusive civic spaces and democratic discourses. On 22 August, the conference commenced with opening remarks from Dr James Gomez of the Asia Centre. This was followed by remarks from representatives of the conference’s title partners. Caroline Ford, Director of the Democratic and Inclusive Governance Division at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), gave the first remarks, followed by Julie Hunter, Senior Legal Advisor at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), Cheryl Lai, Chairperson of Radio Taiwan International, Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA, and Sarah Little, Governance & Civil Society Specialist at Counterpart International. The welcome remarks were followed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the Asia Centre and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of the Asia Centre, and Mardi Seng, an elected Senator from Cambodia and CALD’s Chairperson, represented their respective organisations. This MoU marks the renewal of a partnership with CALD that began with the first MoU signed in 2019. Since the Asia Centre’s establishment in 2015, the two organisations have collaborated on evidence-based research and capacity-building activities. With this renewed commitment, the Asia Centre and CALD aim to create more opportunities for strengthening and expanding civic spaces across Asia. On 22 August, eight panels were convened, addressing a diverse range of topics including governance and civic space, challenges to democracy and mainstreaming inclusivity and diversity in democratic spaces, to highlight the need for inclusive governance, legal protections, and diverse voices to strengthen civil society and uphold democratic values. The panels for Day 1 were as follows: Panel 2: “Best Practices in Collaborative Governance of Public Emergencies,” hosted by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL); Panel 3: “Shrinking Civic Space – Lessons from Southeast Asia,” hosted by the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC); Panel 4: “Criminalization and Prosecution of Changemakers,” hosted by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD); Panel 5: “Political Parties and Civil Society: Exploring How Opposition Parties Bolster or Undermine the Civic Space,” hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI); Panel 6: “National Government-Run Relief Funds and Other Barriers to CSO Resourcing,” hosted by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL); Panel 7: “Beyond Borders and Ethnicities – Amplify the Voice and Diversity,” hosted by Radio Taiwan International (Rti); Panel 8: “Fake News and Democracy,” hosted by La Trobe University. Workshop: “Digital Security Training for High-Risk Users in the Asia-Pacific” hosted by Asia Centre, supported by Google APAC. On 23 August, eight more panels were convened on empowering the marginalised communities, ensuring the integrity of information, and reclaiming the role of civic actors in shaping democratic futures. The panels for the day were as follows: Panel 9: “The Vanguards of Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Youth and Women,” hosted by International IDEA; Panel 10: “Strategies for Defending and Expanding Civic Space: Tactics for Building Positive Relationships with Decisionmakers,” hosted by Counterpart International; Panel 11: “Information Integrity and Digital Public Sphere in Asia,” hosted by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Panel 12: “For Free Civil Activities in Today’s World Where Social Networking Has Become the Norm: A Case Study on Young Generation in Japan,” hosted by Pacifica GK; Panel 13: “An Antidote to Democratic Decline? Stories of Deliberative Democracy from Asia,” hosted by the Asia Foundation Moderator; Panel 14: “Legacies of COVID-19 Governance and Impacts on Civic Freedoms,” hosted by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL); Panel 15: “Navigating and Reclaiming Civic Spaces: Strategies, Support, and Case Studies from Asia and Beyond,” hosted by the Asia Centre; Panel 16: “A New Dawn for Bangladesh: Success of the Student Movement,” hosted by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). The three-day conference concluded with a final networking opportunity
Oxfam Young Leader Fellowship Programme 2024 Kicks Off
Asia Centre hosted the 2024 Oxfam Young Leader Fellowship Programme from 1st to the 5th of July 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the second cohort (read about the first cohort here), in which the fellowship aims to equip eight youths from eight different countries in Asia with the tools, skills, knowledge and networks to drive positive change in their communities. Apart from a week of onsite induction, close mentorship and hands-on practice will be other ways in which the fellows will be supported throughout the fellowship. The eight fellows chosen for the 2024 cohort are Seena Kimhoihching from India, Achmad Zulfikar Luthfi from Indonesia, Bhawana Ghimire from Nepal, Mehrosh Zahid from Pakistan, Jonathan Israel Gelogo from the Philippines, Vishnuvardhanan Padmanabhan from Sri Lanka, Isaura Baptista Barros from Timor Leste, and Nguyen Minh Ha from Vietnam. These fellows were selected from a diverse pool of over 1000 candidates through a series of shortlisting processes including interviews. Collectively they represent a group of aspiring individuals who possess the vision and determination to bring about positive change within their respective societies on pressing issues such as land rights, climate justice, and LGBT+ inclusive education. During the induction week, the Fellows took part in a total of 10 leadership modules, several media workshops as well as reflection and brainstorming sessions. Apart from leadership skills, the sessions were geared to assist in the conceptualisation of their projects and strategise their advocacy efforts. Day One commenced with an introduction to the programme, including the goals of the induction as well as the expectations of the fellows. The induction began with remarks from John Samuel, the Regional Director of Oxfam, who outlined the key challenges in contemporary Asia followed by how the fellowship can respond to these challenges by empowering young advocates in the Asian region. Thereafter Kartini Sunityo and Fatin Arwaeputeh of the Asia Centre delivered the first leadership module, “Inclusive Youth Leadership”. This module sought to develop the fellows’ ability to work in an inclusive manner, with emphasis on teamwork, empathy, and the inclusion of diverse perspectives. Next, Ramesh Singh, a consultant on international development and social justice strategy, delivered the second leadership module on “Leadership Fundamentals: Understanding, Importance, and Challenges”. This session provided the fellows with a foundational understanding of leadership as well as the different types of leadership styles. This module, in conjunction with module one, provided excellent foundational knowledge of inclusive leadership that the fellows built upon throughout the week. Day Two began with the third leadership module, “Empowering Young Voices: Democracy, Human Rights & Civic Space ” by the Asia Centre’s Ekmongkhon Puridej and International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Tyler Esch. This module focused on youth and the intersections of democracy, human rights, and civic space in the region. Oxfam’s Mustafa Talpur presented the fourth leadership module, “Economic Justice (Income, Wealth & Gender Inequality)”. In this session, the fellows got the chance to deepen their understanding of the causes and impacts of economic inequality in society. Dr. Wanun Permpibul, the executive director of Climate Watch Thailand, delivered leadership module five, “Youth Action for Climate Justice: Mobilising Voices and Building Partnerships”. This module began with an overview of climate change, including key terminology and concepts. The root causes of climate change: the burning of fossil fuels, and capitalism, in particular the capitalist economies of the Global North disparity between the Global South were also discussed. Kunthinka Nutcharut delivered the sixth leadership module, “Youth Leadership in the Digital Age”. Kunthinka told the fellows that the digital space is an excellent platform to campaign, but there are inherent risks to an advocate’s security when using digital spaces. Hence, advocates must take measures to protect themselves. Day Three continued with Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez delivering leadership module seven, “Global Development Challenges, Actors and Civil Society Legitimacy & Accountability.’. Here, legal, financial and political challenges being faced by civil society were discussed. In this session, each fellow was able to share their own observations and reflections of civil society in their own countries. Following this, leadership module eight was a panel discussion on “Youth Roles and Leadership in Asia: Advancing Feminist Approaches for Gender Equality and Justice”. Wannapong (Nhuun) Yodmuang, Human Rights and Advocacy Manager at the Asia Pacific Gender Network, noted the issues faced by trans and gender-diverse people across the region, as identified by her organisation’s research, while Dewi Ratnawulan, a Senior Human Rights and Gender Advisor at Rapid Asia, discussed gender inequality issues as identified by Rapid Asia’s research. Leadership module nine was delivered by Ratpatsa Trirath of Oxfam in Thailand, entitled, “Cultivating Youth Advocacy for Ethical and Inclusive Business”. In this module, the difference between the terms ‘inclusive’ ‘responsible’, and ‘sustainable’ in business were highlighted. Here the important takeaway was that advocating for inclusive, responsible, and sustainable business can positively impact human rights in the community. Day Four began with the tenth leadership module, “Advocacy, Campaigning & Public Engagement Tools”. Mustafa Talpur from Oxfam introduced the history of the civil rights movements and examined their successes and failures, and how these lessons can be applied today. Following this, the fellows were introduced to several media workshop sessions. First, Oxfam’s Mufasta Talpur ran a session on Media Engagement & Mobilisation, helping the fellows better understand how to “engage” with different marginalised groups through digital platforms. Second, Sanjay Gathia, the Founder and Director of the Borders and Broader Conversations Initiative discussed how media can be “mobilised” for social change, alongside the challenges and complexities associated with social media. He also informed the fellows of various media engagement strategies. Third, Nipuna Kumbalathara of CIVICUS delivered a session on “Why Digital Media Matters for Youth Leadership”. This session introduced the fellows to the art and practice of digital storytelling, and deepened their understanding of the pivotal role digital media has in shaping youth leadership and advocacy. Thereafter, the Asia Centre led a session on self-reflection. This encompassed an integration of insights where the fellows discussed their refined perspectives on social issues following the induction
CSOs Need to Guard Against Surveillance and Privacy Threats
CSOs in the region are confronting significant surveillance and privacy threats, but there are actionable steps they can take to mitigate these risks. This consensus emerged from the Asia Centre’s event on 18 July 2024, titled “Surveillance & Privacy: Safeguarding CSOs in the Age of Digital Threats”. 32 attendees, including CSOs from across the region joined the event which was part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, jointly organised by Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific. Commencing in December 2023, the year-long Digital Rights Programme includes thematic online and onsite activities aimed at bringing CSOs together to address pertinent digital rights issues. During the event, six speakers highlighted current surveillance and privacy threats faced by CSOs and individuals in the region, the role of technology companies in perpetuating and preventing these threats, and how CSOs and individuals can take steps to protect themselves. The panel discussion featured Pavitra Ramanujam from the Association for Progressive Communications, Josie Tham from Privacy International, Quynh-Vi Tran from Legal Initiatives for Vietnam, Yin Maung from Engage Media, Nenden Sekar Arum from SAFENet, and Michael Caster from ARTICLE 19. Lina Sakin Salim from Asia Centre moderated the session. Pavitra Ramanujam, who leads the Digital Rights Work in Asia programme for the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), noted there was an increase in State and non-State actors maliciously targeting CSOs in the region. As the online space becomes more used by CSOs in their campaigns, governments have correspondingly responded by undertaking digital surveillance of communications such as phone calls, messages, or emails. Pavitra highlighted state-sponsored hacking activities, including the use of software like Pegasus for spying, and the issuing of takedown notices to social media platforms for certain content. She also noted instances of digital harassment and doxxing by non-state actors such as political, corporate, or religious groups targeting CSO-affiliated individuals. Josie Tham, an Advocacy Officer at Privacy International, discussed Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT), a form of surveillance where law enforcement and intelligence agencies collect and analyse social media data to identify potential threats. This includes accessing search histories, monitoring participation in online groups, reviewing user-posted content, and extracting data from social media pages. Josie highlighted the impact of SOCMINT on human rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, and public participation, and suggested strategies to mitigate SOCMINT collection, such as removing EXIF data from published images and disabling location access permissions. Quynh-Vi Tran, the Executive Director of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV), focused on how international technology companies play a role in digital rights in Vietnam. She discussed Facebook’s role before and after the implementation of the 2018 Cybersecurity Law, highlighting its compliance with government regulations and its impact on CSO activities. Vi stressed the importance of alliances among large technology companies to defend digital rights, citing examples of advocacy successes in legislative processes. Yin Maung currently leads and oversees digital rights and digital safety initiatives in Myanmar. He informed that the Junta is regularly employing internet shutdowns during critical periods of resistance, and has recently implemented a ban on using VPNs. Additionally, the Junta have formed an internet monitoring committee which prosecutes persons who post critical content. Yin explained the work that his organisation does to mitigate this, such as distributing VPNs and otherwise helping persons access the internet. Nenden Sekar Arum, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), offered deeper insights into the Indonesian context. She discussed recent allegations of the Indonesian government using spyware, an issue yet to be resolved. Nenden emphasised the necessity for CSOs to forge cross-border alliances to strengthen advocacy efforts. She underscored the pivotal role of collaborating with technology companies to amplify CSO voices. Michael Caster, Asia Digital Programme Manager at ARTICLE 19, highlighted that CSOs are actively raising awareness about surveillance, privacy threats, and other digital security issues, despite facing targeted threats themselves. He pointed out challenges concerning transparency among major technology companies developing surveillance technologies and called for greater openness in government procurement and usage of such technologies. Michael suggested CSOs could promote transparency by urging governments to disclose their methods of procuring and employing surveillance technology. He stressed the importance of investigative journalism and activism alongside advocacy for technology reform. After the panel discussion, a Q&A session ensued. Pavitra highlighted that a person’s marginalised status may contribute to their experiencing of privacy threats, as for example LGBT+ persons in non-LGBT+ friendly countries face a high risk of harm if they are outed as LGBT+ from a privacy leak or targeted surveillance activity. Josie acknowledged the utility of the online space for CSOs but cautioned about the accompanying risk of SOCMINT activity directed against them. Vi further discussed how large technology companies can unite to push back against governments attempting to curtail digital rights. Yin discussed how technology companies in Myanmar are facing pressure to comply with government requests, and how the digital rights community in Myanmar is advocating for these technology companies to be held accountable. Nenden underscored the potential for CSOs to collaborate with international organisations, citing Indonesian examples. In 2019, amid significant challenges in the eastern part of Indonesia, specifically in Papua, international organisations offered crucial support. This assistance empowered Indonesian CSOs to legally contest governmental decisions, effectively pressuring both government and district courts. Finally, Michael discussed how democracies can push technology companies to support human rights. He highlighted that while technology companies often focus on profit, CSOs can advocate for a re-evaluation that includes social good. Michael also shared ARTICLE 19’s success in collaborating with technology companies to issue statements expressing dissatisfaction with certain governments’ laws. The event concluded with an invitation to join the signal group of Digital Rights Programme for CSOs community in the region. Additionally, there was an invitation for all attendees to come to the Asia Centre’s 9th annual conference entitled “Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback”. Finally, they were encouraged to follow the Asia Centre’s social media for more updates on relevant activities. Asia Centre is
CSO Voices in Cambodia Needed in AI Discussions
On 17 June 2024, nearly 50 representatives from local civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia participated in the event “Digital Technology in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities” held in Phnom Penh. During the event, panellists and participants highlighted that, given the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping Cambodia’s society, the voices of CSOs must be heard in relevant discussions to ensure technological developments contribute to creating a just society. During the event, five panellists shared their experiences of using digital technology in their work, reflecting on how the popularisation of these tools has transformed Cambodian society and discussing potential future changes in light of new developments like artificial intelligence. The Asia Centre organised the event with the support of Google as part of the project Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, spanning from November 2023 to October 2024. For this engagement in Phnom Penh, the AmCam Exchange Center – Pannasastra University of Cambodia hosted the event at their premises. The event began with opening remarks from Dr Chea Sophea, Executive Director of the AmCam Exchange Centre. He emphasised the importance of having more meeting spaces and opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders to discuss critical issues facing Cambodian society, such as the challenges and opportunities arising from the country’s digital transformation. Dr James Gomez, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, also delivered opening remarks. He brought to the attention of the audience that Cambodia ranks 145th out of 193 countries in AI readiness with a score of 31.88 (where 0 is the lowest and 100 is the highest). Dr Gomez stressed the importance of gatherings like this to openly discuss how AI and digital tools which can help Cambodian society move forward in technology journey. During the panel discussion, five female speakers representing different civil society sectors in Cambodia provided their insights on using technology in their respective professions. Their views added significant value to the discussion about the role of technology in shaping Cambodian society. They highlighted not only how technology has transformed the country over the past 15 years but also how they expect recent developments will further impact it. The first speaker was Professor Meas Nearyroth, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Education at Pannasastra University of Cambodia. During her presentation, she outlined how digital technology in the education sector has become particularly relevant from the COVID-19 pandemic onwards. On the one hand, digital technology offers endless opportunities to implement new pedagogical approaches in learning spaces, such as flipped classrooms, personalised learning, and better accessibility to resources. On the other hand, tools like AI pose new challenges, including plagiarism and a lack of critical engagement with data. Professor Nearyroth emphasised the need for further discussions to maximise the benefits of technology and AI while addressing these challenges. Siv Vatana, Research and Web Content Manager at Open Development Cambodia discussed the country’s digital transformation from a regulatory perspective. She emphasised that while digital technology offers endless opportunities for Cambodian society, it requires thorough and fair regulations to ensure these technologies benefit everyone. This includes easier access to draft laws to allow for more public input before they are passed as laws. She also stressed the importance of making Cambodia’s digital transformation as inclusive as possible, ensuring all social groups can voice their concerns and needs. Vatana highlighted the necessity of more multi-stakeholder discussions on technology to achieve these goals. The third speaker was Catherina Harry, a content creator and influencer with her YouTube channel “A Dose of Cath.” She used her experience in creating digital content to highlight the importance of fostering an interconnected society where everyone with a smartphone can share their stories, creating content that resonates with people. She also addressed the challenges associated with owning a digital device connected to the internet, focusing on data governance. While smartphones have become indispensable tools for millions of people in Cambodia, Catherina stressed that they are also tracking devices, leaving numerous digital footprints. She urged users to carefully consider these aspects to ensure their privacy and safety. Marissa Carruthers, editor at Kiripost, shared her insights on the opportunities and challenges associated with digital technology from the perspective of media outlets. She noted that media was one of the first sectors to benefit from the widespread use of digital technology. Marissa highlighted the opportunities that arise from the ability to share information without the filters that have long characterised traditional media, both in Cambodia and globally. However, she stressed that limited digital media literacy challenges the potential benefits of digital technology. For example, the spread of disinformation is a significant issue. Without the relevant skills and media literacy, users have fewer tools to identify inaccurate information and are more likely to share it, thus amplifying false messages. Eng SreyPov, Senior Project Officer at the Cambodian Youth Network, discussed the role of technology in Cambodia, highlighting two main points. Firstly, she emphasised the importance of digital technology in online campaigning and governance, noting how new communication channels have enhanced these efforts. Secondly, SreyPov addressed two significant challenges. Firstly, echoing previous discussions, she highlighted the critical need for quality education on digital technology use, especially among youth and those in remote areas. Secondly, she underscored the relative lack of awareness about digital security threats among the public, which poses a major challenge to people’s privacy and online safety. The insights shared by all five speakers sparked meaningful exchanges among participants, with questions and comments directed towards the panellists and fellow attendees. The discussion highlighted a common concern: many civil society stakeholders feel overlooked in discussions about Cambodia’s digital transformation. Participants expressed particular concern regarding AI and cybersecurity, emphasising that while they acknowledge the benefits of current and ongoing technological developments, they feel their voices are not sufficiently heard in shaping regulations and laws. There is a strong desire for inclusive dialogue to ensure that all stakeholders provide input into these crucial areas. Asia Centre’s Dr James Gomez closed the event, expressing gratitude to all speakers and participants for their attendance
CSOs Need to Strengthen Media Literacy for Underrepresented Groups
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the region can play an important role to strengthen media literacy for underrepresented groups – this was the thrust of the online panel discussion held on 16 May 2024 convened by Asia Centre. The event is a part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, convened by Asia Centre with support from Google Asia Pacific, to engage CSOs and their partners that currently work on the issues facing digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme, which started in December 2023, spans a year-long run of thematic online and onsite activities to bring CSOs together to address digital rights issues that they might experience. During this discussion, speakers highlighted the significant impact of civic activism and the diverse literacy initiatives across Southeast Asia. Speakers shared their experiences, challenges, and best practices for enhancing their communities’ media literacy. The session also provided an opportunity for speakers to share their MIL materials on their open-sharing platforms with the participants to further encourage MIL learning. The panel discussion featured speakers Thanh-Giang Nguyen from ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Anik Pichaya Charoonpongsakdi from the ASEAN Youth Advisory Group, Chhan Sokunthea from the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, Intan Faradila from the ASEAN Foundation, and Andreas Grigo from DW Akademie. Lina Salim from the Asia Centre facilitated the session. Thanh-Giang Nguyen, a visiting senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, discussed the impact of civic activism through informal charities in Vietnam during COVID-19, focusing on two online communities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. He highlighted their use of social media for citizen journalism and charity work as alternatives to government media. Despite cybersecurity law challenges, these groups effectively mobilised change and influenced COVID-19 policies. He emphasised the importance of civil society organisations and called for more state support for their efforts. Anik Pichaya Charoonpongsakdi, an ASEAN Youth Advisory Group member, discussed her “Think, Care, Share” campaign in Thailand, part of the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme. The project educates high school students on identifying fake news and promoting media literacy. Anik stressed the students’ roles as content creators and media consumers, encouraging them to share their knowledge. Through online and on-site sessions, students learned about fake news and created online content to share via social media. The campaign reached over 50,000 people, empowering students and teachers and highlighting the need for collaboration, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability. Chhan Sokunthea, Executive Director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), discussed efforts to engage youth in media and information literacy. She highlighted collaborations with civil society to promote media literacy, especially among university students. Despite challenges in press freedom and digital rights, CCIM remains committed to expanding outreach and promoting digital inclusion, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. She emphasised the need to address the digital divide and empower Cambodians, especially youth, to navigate digital information complexities. Intan Faradila, Project Officer from the ASEAN Foundation, provided insights into its ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (ADLP), sharing its objectives and achievements. She outlined the critical activities of the programme, including the development and localisation of digital literacy modules tailored to each ASEAN member state. Notable achievements include training over 193,000 individuals, engaging nearly one million through social media, and creating an e-learning platform to sustain the programme’s impact by hosting digital literacy modules and resources for MIL trainers to benefit from. She highlighted the ongoing efforts of trainers and urged further collaborations with local partners. Andreas Grigo, Programme Director of Digital Resilience and Dialogue at DW Akademie, discussed successful media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives, emphasising global collaboration and knowledge sharing. He advocated for integrating effective MIL strategies across regions to accelerate progress and avoid redundancy. He highlighted the crucial role of youth engagement in MIL, as they are both digital media consumers and future decision-makers. He said he used technology to enhance traditional training methods, suggesting the development of digital tools and taking a comprehensive approach to MIL; combining global collaboration, youth engagement, inclusive education, and strategic use of technology. Following the panellists’ input, the Q&A session provided further insights into MIL initiatives. Anik detailed the “Think, Care, Share” Project’s reach through online platforms, underlining the need for engaging MIL strategies for youth. Sokunthea addressed press freedom challenges in Cambodia, citing state control constraints. Thanh highlighted the significance of user-generated content during COVID-19, while Andreas advocated for collaborative MIL frameworks. Additionally, Intan showcased relevant initiatives in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar, focusing on reaching marginalised communities through innovative partnerships and offline learning modules. The speakers collectively emphasised the crucial need for comprehensive, collaborative, and sustained efforts in promoting MIL across diverse communities. The event concluded with an announcement of the opening of Asia Centre Training Hub in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and inviting participants to join the onsite meeting “Digital Technology in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities,” scheduled for 17 June 2024 at AmCam Exchange Center. Registration for the session is available here. Participants are also invited to attend the next online meeting under the Digital Rights Programme focusing on “Surveillance & Privacy”, which will be held virtually on 18 July 2024. Registration for the session is available here. Participants were encouraged to read and download the full report of the “Online Content Regulation in Asia-Pacific”, which was launched in January 2024. They were also invited to join interactive Signal Group for the CSOs network for this programme. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Disinformation Biggest Threat to Taiwan’s Democracy: CSOs Say Shift in Narrative Needed
Around 50 individuals from CSOs, diplomatic missions, media, think tanks, and universities gathered at Taiwan National University on 16 April 2024 to discuss concerns related to disinformation—the biggest digital threat facing the country. During the session, seven panellists shared their observations that there is a need to go beyond fact-checking and media literacy and focus on shifting the narratives disrupted by disinformation. The event co-convened by Asia Centre and Office of International Affairs, National Taiwan University (NTU-OIA) with support from Google, is part of a year long Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations. This meeting in Taiwan is part of a suite of monthly online and onsite activities. During the welcome remarks segment, Professor Hsiao-Wei Yuan, Vice President for International Affairs welcomed all participants and stressed the importance of discussing issues of disinformation. While Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre highlighted the important role CSOs play in combating disinformation. Chenie Yoon, Lead APAC Content Regulation, Google emphasised how collaborations across sectors and borders are important to ensure freedom of expression and access to information. At the panel discussion titled “Navigating the Digital Landscape: Responses from CSOs to Disinformation and Digital Threats in Taiwan,” seven panellists addressed disinformation from their various organisational perspectives. Isis M. Lee, Vice President, Radio Taiwan International (Rti) who moderated the panel discussion of “Navigating the Digital Landscape: Responses from CSOs to Disinformation and Digital Threats in Taiwan” reminded participants that disinformation in Taiwan extends beyond its borders. In particular, she pointed to how disinformation is used for manipulation. Leah Lin, Executive Director of the Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA), stressed the significance of technology in fostering dialogue in society, despite challenges like regulatory constraints and resource limitations faced by CSOs. She highlighted emerging digital threats like organised online attacks and surveillance abuses pose risks to human rights changemakers. Her suggestion was to build solidarity among CSOs to safeguard civic space against evolving digital threats and urged CSOs to form alliances and propose digital rights declarations. Hsin-I Lin, Director of the Social Advocacy Division at the Taiwan Reach-Out Association for Democracy (T-ROAD), highlighted the multifaceted digital threats confronting Taiwan from both physical and virtual realms, particularly exacerbated by the growing influence of foreign cultural and political propaganda. She highlighted the need for effective media literacy and constructive dialogue among diverse groups in Taiwan to overcome this foreign influence. Chao Hwei Hwang, Chief of Content at Taiwan AI Labs & Foundation, shed light on the digital landscape surrounding the 2024 Taiwan presidential election by revealing the use of generative AI and disinformation tactics to sway public opinion. She pointed to the influence from foreign state-owned media orchestrating narratives that threaten Taiwan’s democratic values. Her recommendation was to leverage AI tools to gather reliable information from various news sources and social media platforms. Alvin Chang, Managing Director of the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy (TYAD), raised concerns that as young Taiwanese engage in online platforms, they are potentially influenced and manipulated by social media from abroad. He underscored the importance of media literacy education among Taiwanese youth and urged for regulatory adaptation. He said youth must be empowered to actively engage in politics and advocate for media transparency and accountability. Marcin Jerzewski, Head of the Taiwan Office at the European Values Center for Security Policy, addressed the need for a comprehensive approach to combat disinformation and uphold democratic values of Taiwan. He highlighted that efforts to tackle digital threats often lack intersectionality, leaving indigenous and ageing populations behind. Jerzewski suggested reform to media literacy education in Taiwan to target senior citizens and indigenous communities. Filip Noubel, Managing Editor of Global Voices stressed the complexity and dynamics of disinformation. He mentioned the power of the narrative in shaping public perception, distrust, and polarisation. Noubel underlined the importance of narrative analysis in combating disinformation which he opined was more effective compared to fact-checking. He proposed the Community Civic Media Observatory (CCMO) initiative, which involves exploring various sources beyond traditional media to uncover underlying narratives. In line with the CCMO, Noubel also called for increased media literacy education among the Taiwanese public. The panel discussion ended with a networking session among all those present that lasted a good one hour. Many exchanged information of their work and sought out collaboration opportunities. To watch the highlights of the Country Meeting in Taiwan, click here. For those interested, upcoming online sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs in 2024 will cover topics on Media Information Literacy (16 May) , Surveillance & Privacy (18 July), Foreign Interference (15 August), and Artificial Intelligence (19 September). Meanwhile, plans are underway for on-site sessions in Cambodia and Malaysia. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Asia Centre Training Hub to Enhance Capacity in Cambodia
Asia Centre’s Training Hub will enhance capacity in Cambodia by undertaking research and implementing customised training programmes for community organisations, government agencies, media organisations, non-governmental organisations, and universities. The Centre will deliver its capacity-building activities by: undertaking evidence-based needs assessments; design training programmes and curriculum, provide trainers to deliver ‘train-the-trainer’ and end beneficiary sessions; track the delivery of training programmes; and produce training evaluation reports. In order to undertake these activities in March 2024, Asia Centre established its Training Hub at the Toul Kork district in Phnom Penh. This area was chosen to ensure the Centre’s operations are close to the community, as Touk Kouk is home to NGO offices, government agencies, and universities. Asia Centre (see Google map) is located at Floor 15B, Time Square 3 Building, Tuol Kouk, Phnom Penh. It is an end of corridor corner unit that is triangular in shape with full-length glass windows on all sides, with a net floor area of 75 square metres. When approaching the office from the elevator, visitors will be able to spot from afar the Asia Centre logo on the door and as they approach closer the engraved door handle. The office interior is designed using a white, grey and black colour palette and is divided into four distinct sections: 1) the Entryway; 2) the Working Area; 3) the Meeting Room; and 4) the Discussion Room. The Entryway is a long passageway connecting to the main office area. On the left side, the Asia Centre logo and a plaque showing its Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council are displayed. On the right of the entryway are full-length glass windows overlooking Toul Kouk district and Phnom Penh, which continue around the entire office unit, providing excellent natural lighting and views. The Working Area is an open-plan 4 desk system with individual drawer units and ergonomic office chairs. All desks have integrated power points for electronic devices, including individual HDMI, USB and USB Type-C outlets. There are built-in wall shelves and cabinets for storage and a wall-mounted Smart TV to display information for collaborative discussions. The Meeting Room is located close to the left of the workstations. It offers a large conference table and seating for up to 8 people. It is at one end equipped with a Smart TV and video conferencing equipment for on-site and remote meetings, and one the other end a set of built-in cabinets. In between the cabinets, the Asia Centre logo is strategically placed to be seen during video calls. The Discussion Room is located at the triangular corner end of the unit. Like the other rooms, this room also has a Smart TV with video conferencing equipment. It has a roundtable and seats up to 3 people and is suitable for one-on-one discussions and calls. Its all around view makes for an excellent natural backdrop during video calls. Towards the end of the working day when the day turns from dusk to evening, the ambience in the office also changes, as the panoramic view surrounding the office ushers in the sunset. The strategically placed ambient lighting correspondingly illuminates the office during this time providing a comfortable and warm mood as the Centre winds down for the evening. Starting April 2024, Asia Centre has been receiving existing and potential partners at the office and has had discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration in Cambodia and in the region. If you are interested in collaborating with Asia Centre please send us an email query at contact@asiacentre.org or make an appointment to visit us at our office. You can also reach us through Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Diplomatic Briefing: Asia Centre’s Training Hub in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
On April 5, 2024, the Asia Centre held a briefing for Bangkok-based diplomatic missions accredited to Cambodia. The briefing covered Asia Centre’s work in Cambodia, introduced its new Training Hub in Phnom Penh, and provided some preliminary findings from its research on electoral integrity in Cambodia. The briefing was attended by key diplomatic missions, including the Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan embassies, INGOs engaged with Cambodia, and several Australian New Colombo Plan Scholars based in Thailand. Also in attendance was Emeritus Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn in his academic role, who is also concurrently the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia. The event began with the opening remarks by Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre. He provided an overview of the Asia Centre, introduced the Training Hub in Phnom Penh, and then outlined the importance of Cambodia in the Asia Centre’s regional approach, demonstrated by the Centre’s ongoing research and engagements in the country. Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira, Research Manager at the Asia Centre, provided an overview of the Asia Centre’s work in Cambodia. He outlined and detailed the suite of research, UN submissions, and engagements that the Centre has undertaken regarding Cambodia, such as its report “Internet Freedoms in Cambodia: A Gateway to Control”, published in 2021 in partnership with the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law. Following this, Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira introduced Asia Centre’s preliminary findings of its research on electoral integrity in Cambodia, which is in partnership with the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC). He provided a comprehensive summary of the report’s background and then presented the key findings and recommendations for key actors in Cambodia, highlighting the decrease in physical violence and harassment in election periods but an observed increase in legislative and administrative restrictions. Finally, to provide insights into the Asia Centre’s growth in the region, Dr. James Gomez outlined some of the upcoming projects and initiatives that the Centre has planned for Cambodia, including media advocacy training, digital rights and security programmes, and advocacy activities related to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). After the presentations, opportunities for discussion and questions were provided. Participants actively engaged in open discussion, primarily focused on the declining, weakened state of electoral integrity in the country. The issue of security and safety when operating as an organisation in Cambodia was also discussed, to which Dr. James Gomez explained that Asia Centre’s expertise in the country and the strategic partnerships it has developed with key stakeholders have allowed it to develop trust and a presence in the country. He also emphasised that research and advocacy that has a genuine impact often requires navigating these concerns, which Asia Centre has experience in through expanding its operations into countries throughout the region. After the briefing concluded, a networking session provided participants with an opportunity to connect after the event. The new and existing connections and networks developed through the briefing will support Asia Centre’s Cambodia approach as it commences its operations in the country. If you are interested in partnering with the Asia Centre on projects related to Cambodia or others, please email info@asiacentre.org. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Stronger Collaboration Needed to Strengthen Democracy in Asia
From 14 to 19 March 2024, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez visited Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to speak at three separate panels during which he called for a stronger partnership for democracy in Asia. These panels were either organised or supported by the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) during the week of the 3rd Summit for Democracy 2024. The GDC, convened by International IDEA, and supported by its democracy partners, aims to facilitate dialogue, exchange knowledge, and advocate for democracy, not only during the Summits for Democracy but also champion the democracy agenda at other international and regional gatherings. On 14 March 2024, during the panel discussion “Narratives and Strategies for Democracy in Asia,” organised by the Asia Regional GDC Forum 2024 and held at the East Asia Institute (watch short video), Dr Gomez highlighted the inability of national governments across Asia to uphold democratic values and practices. Instead, he argued that democracy is held down by long-ruling authoritarian elites and their families. To overcome this situation, Dr Gomez suggested joint actions by local, regional, and international NGOs to strengthen the democratic fabric of the region. Similarly, on 15 March during the panel discussion “Youth, Technology, and Democracy: A Regional Perspective” (watch short video), at an event organised by the Global GDC Forum 2024 and held at The Josun Westin, Dr Gomez recommended strengthening the state of democracy in Asia by empowering youth. In particular, he suggested equipping youth with media information literacy skills to navigate the fake news on democracy and human rights put out by authoritarian states and their supporters. On 19 March 2024 at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre, at a panel,“Building Synergy and Intergenerational Solidarity: Asian Political Parties and Civil Society for Democracy (watch short video).” organised by Asia Centre and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Dr. Gomez mooted the idea of establishing a pan-Asian collaboration among CSOs to discuss the state of democracy in the region and to strategise a response. He stressed the importance of bridging the gap and promoting deeper understanding between CSOs and political parties as they share a common democratic agenda. Dr. Gomez’s speeches during the week of the Summit for Democracy were well received and amplified later. For instance, 3 days after the Summit on 24 March 2024, the GDC tweeted that Dr. Gomez emphasised that, “ Discussion intergenerational solidarity between Asia political parties and civil society for democracy” as well as that he said, “States would find the Summit for Democracy hollow without CSO involvement”. On 29 March, a week following the Summit, the South China Morning Post published an interview in Dr. Gomez explained how “information integrity” can be used to counter countries that use “disinformation” as an excuse restricting regulations on speech. Additionally, Gomez urged that the content creators be allowed to provide truthful information “without interference, especially from freedom-repressing governments.” However it was not all speeches and quotes. On the sidelines of the 3rd Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Gomez also had the opportunity to meet and discuss future collaboration with officials from the Korean Democracy Foundation, Asian Democracy Network (ADN Asia) and Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). Overall, Asia Centre is committed to advancing and fostering CSO-to-CSO collaboration for a more democratic future in Asia and beyond. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.
Fact-Checking Useful, But No Longer Primary Tool Against Disinformation
On 21 March 2024, Asia Centre hosted a virtual panel discussion titled “Fact-Checking: Is it Working?” as part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, jointly organised by Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific. The event attracted over 40 participants, including members of academic institutions, representatives from civil society, lawyers, and independent journalists. Dr James Gomez, the Regional Director of Asia Centre, opened the discussion with insights gained from his recent participation in the 3rd Global Democracy Summit 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. He noted that during the Summit the key concept was “information integrity” and that CSOs were shifting to “information” issues rather than news or media. He also highlighted the discussions at Summit did not consider fact-checking as it was seen as increasingly untenable in the face of overwhelming disinformation everywhere. Dr. Gomez said the seminar was timely as the question of whether fact-checking was working can get us thinking about how better to deal with disinformation. The panel discussion featured speakers such as Gemma Bagayaua Mendoza from Rappler, Harshana Silva from Hashtag Generation, Santi Indra Astuti from MAFINDO, Tanka Aryal from Digital Rights Nepal, and Eric Wishart from AFP. The session was moderated by Lina Sakin Salim from Asia Centre. Gemma Bagayaua Mendoza shared the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, leading to the creation of realistic fake videos and voices. She highlighted instances where Philippine women journalists were manipulated using voice changeovers, presenting manipulated content as authentic evidence. Gemma acknowledged that fact-checking is important but can be limited and stressed the importance of involving everyone within society to combat disinformation, from family and schools to legal authorities and governments. Harshana Silva addressed the diverse landscapes of disinformation problems in Sri Lanka, particularly during elections, and the repercussions faced by citizens due to misinformation. While acknowledging the efficacy of fact-checking, Harshana highlighted the need for more resources and time to reach a wider audience effectively, as fact-checkers are racing against time to combat the rapidly produced disinformation online. Santi Indra Astuti shared insights and statistics from the past 6 years into Indonesia’s experience with misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While fact-checking is widely used in Indonesia, she emphasised the need for holistic approaches beyond fact-checking, focusing on societal engagement and awareness to correct social behaviour towards disinformation. Despite extensive training and awareness efforts, challenges such as attacks on fact-checkers persist. Examples of the challenges that face-checkers face in-country in awareness-raising efforts are connecting with the right audiences and understanding their behaviour. Tanka Aryal discussed the limited scope of fact-checking in Nepal, attributing it to minimal organisational initiatives and low public awareness. He observed that citizens are not aware of fake checking and disinformation because they are unable to filter the information. Tanka noted the public’s preference for sensational misinformation shared in fact pace over genuine information, underscoring the need for education and awareness campaigns. Eric Wishart highlighted AFP’s fact-checking initiatives and their impact through media interactions and standardised protocols. He stressed the importance of transparency among fact-checkers and provided a deeper understanding of fact-checking processes. For him, fact-checking remains a relevant tool for the masses to do digital verification of fake news online. Towards the end of the discussion, all five speakers arrived at the conclusion that fact-checking, while still useful, should not be the primary tool to combat disinformation. They opined that debunking through fact-checking is still reliable and serves as a foundation for preempting similar disinformation. However, they also acknowledged that given the mass proliferation of online disinformation—including resource-intensive personnel requirements, delayed debunking, and inapplicability to digital illiterates—render fact-checking less effective. Hence, other approaches, such as societal engagement, media’s proactive reporting and media literacy training, should be prioritised as primary tools, with fact-checking serving as a supplementary tool. The event concluded with a timely invitation to participants for the next online meeting under the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, titled “Media Information Literacy: CSOs as Changemakers for Digital Empowerment,” scheduled for 16 May 2024. Registration for the session is available here. Apart from Media Information Literacy, other upcoming online sessions of the Digital Rights Programme for CSOs will include Surveillance & Privacy, Foreign-Interference, and Artificial-Intelligence. 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. Follow Asia Centre’s social media channels for more information.