Bangkok (Thailand), 12 July 2024 – With the misuse of technology posing a serious threat across Southeast Asia for the past few years, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is launching a regional campaign for governments and the public to raise awareness about the safe and responsible use of technology. The campaign, titled #TechSafeSpace, aims to promote a secure digital environment, promote digital inclusion and responsibility, and uphold human rights.
“Technology's rapid evolution is reshaping our global landscape,” said Joshua James, Regional Counter-Cybercrime Coordinator at UNODC. “While it has enhanced communication and knowledge accessibility, it has also provided a breeding ground for criminal exploitation, with implications for both transnational organized crime and personal safety.”
A recent UNODC report titled Casinos, Money Laundering, Underground Banking, and Transnational Organized Crime in East and Southeast Asia sheds light on these trends, revealing a rise in cyber-enabled fraud by transnational organized crime groups in Southeast Asia.
Transnational organized crime groups in the region often operate brazenly, sometimes posing as legitimate enterprises or even charitable organizations. Their activities have become more coordinated, resulting in a surge of various cybercrimes, including ransomware attacks, cryptocurrency-related fraud, and online child exploitation.
“While these activities aren't entirely new, the use of emerging technologies in criminal endeavours is expanding,” said James. “With the rise of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, collaborative efforts between governments and corporations are imperative to ensure the safe and responsible use of technology.”
Inclusivity in Technology
Despite the notable increase in internet accessibility across Southeast Asia, a stark digital divide remains, limiting access and opportunities for many. Particularly striking is the underrepresentation of women, who account for only 35% of the technology workforce in the region.
Suchanart Yord-in, Programme Assistant at UNODC’s Counter-Cybercrime team, addressed the challenge of inclusivity in technology, especially concerning gender-based violence. “Technology-facilitated gender-based violence has surged in recent years,” Yord-in said. "This highlights the urgent need to safeguard and promote women's rights in the digital age.”
Mel Migriño, Southeast Asia Regional Director at Gogolook stated that closing this disparity requires coordinated efforts among governments, tech firms, and civil society. “It is crucial to advocate for advancing digital inclusion within the technology sector, expanding technology access, and ensuring that technological progress benefits all segments of society.”
This includes encouraging women and LGBTIQ+ individuals to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, alongside mentorship programme and awareness campaigns to create a more inclusive tech environment.
Human Rights and Freedom of Expression
The threats posed by technology extend to human rights and freedom of expression. Instances of online censorship, where authorities restrict access to information or stifle dissenting voices, highlight the need to safeguard internet freedom and combat censorship and the persecution of journalists and media professionals.
According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Efforts must be made to uphold human rights principles and ensure that individuals can express themselves freely and without fear of retribution in the digital age.”
Suchanart Yord-In highlighted the internet's role in both educational opportunities and the spread of misinformation. “The internet has revolutionized how people interact and access information,” Yord-in noted. “However, it has also accelerated the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.”
Recommendations for Governments
One of the campaign’s main messages is that governments play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by technology misuse.
“Governments have a crucial role in fostering inclusivity, protecting human rights, and combating misinformation in the digital realm,” James said.
To achieve these goals, it is essential for governments to implement comprehensive strategies, he added. This includes enacting gender-responsive digital policies, improving technology access, and investing in digital skills training.
Additionally, addressing gender-based violence through online harassment reporting systems and safety training is paramount. “Upholding freedom of expression requires promoting digital literacy and ensuring transparency in governance processes,” James said.
Recommendations for the Public
Another key campaign message to the public is that it is our collective responsibility to contribute to a safer and more inclusive online environment.
Thitirat Thipsamritkul, from Thammasat University, stated "Instances of cyberbullying, harassment, and hate speech can profoundly impact individuals' mental well-being and impair the availability of online public space that people can share different ideas openly,” highlighting the influence of platform designs on users’ behaviour and public interest.
“To combat these issues and create a safer online space, platforms must encourage the collective culture to uphold respect for others’ rights and promote inclusivity,” Thitirat said.
Joshua James called on the public to actively report any abuses they encounter in the online space. “Reporting illegal online activities is an extremely important part of this process. We encourage you to report things that you see online, and if you believe that they are illegal, also try reporting them to your local law enforcement,” James said.
