Cambodia's government moved to exert near-total control over the country's online life Wednesday, setting up a national internet gateway which activists say will stifle freedom of expression and block content via a China-style firewall.Cambodia has seen a rapid increase in internet use in recent years, and Premier Hun Sen's government - which dissolved the main opposition party in 2017 - has intensified a crackdown on online dissent.A government spokesman dismissed concerns ove

Since a military coup earlier this month, Myanmar has endured internet blackouts and blocks on some social media sites, while a draft cybersecurity bill has been floated.These lightning-quick moves by the new junta have tech experts, rights groups and citizens worried that internet-hungry Myanmar will soon be as cut off as during the previous military regime.What Has Happened Since The Coup?The military has so far ordered five temporary internet shutdowns, starting on 1 February - the day of

Vietnam faced criticism Wednesday from the United States (US) and rights groups after jailing three pro-democracy bloggers weeks ahead of the communist government's party congress.The run-up to a leadership transition later this month is a particularly tense period for the state as candidates jostle for power behind closed doors.In recent months, the authoritarian regime has stepped up its crackdown on dissent and has arrested numerous critics.At a quick trial Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City

Tensions are rising around Thailand's pro-democracy protests, with police shooting six people last week and using tear gas and water cannon on the streets of Bangkok.As the Thai capital braces for the next major rally on Wednesday, let’s take a look at the forces in play and what might come next in a country with a long history of political unrest.Protesters Getting Tough After four months of rallies, sometimes involving tens of thousands of demonstrators, the mood is getting to

Social media, digital media, collaborative platforms and the like, have become an essential facet and feature in many democratic societies.

Malaysian police said Tuesday they are investigating an Al Jazeera documentary about the arrests of undocumented migrants during the coronavirus lockdown after officials denounced it for damaging the country's image.The move comes after several activists, journalists and opposition figures have been put under investigation recently in what critics say is a bid to silence dissent. The documentary by the Qatar-based broadcaster, "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown", f

ASEAN member states have had an eventful seven days.  In recent years, Southeast Asia has enjoyed increasing democratisation along with economic growth.

Amnesty International on Wednesday accused Facebook of "caving" to Vietnam's strict censorship regime, after the United States (US) tech giant confirmed it was blocking content deemed illegal by the country's communist government.Authorities regularly sentence domestic critics to harsh prison terms but have come under fire recently for targeting dissent on the world's most popular social network. Facebook is a popular platform for activists in Vietnam, where

On 14 January, during his fourth annual meeting with the press, Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen announced legal-aid support for the country’s journalists. The meeting was attended by nearly 6,000 members of the media and the press.Recent news from government press agency, Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) also quoted Cambodian Lawyers’ Council president, Ky Tech as saying that Hun Sen’s legal aid team will be offering its services to defend journalists deemed ethical.

A Thai journalist sentenced to two years in prison for defaming the owner of a poultry farm via a tweet said Thursday the kingdom's criminal libel laws are eviscerating media freedom.A court convicted Suchanee Cloitre in December for a tweet referencing a dispute over working conditions at a chicken farm owned by the Thammakaset company.The farm had been at the centre of a labour dispute by Myanmar workers complaining of punishing working hours and conditions.Thailand's Supreme Cour