Dumbing down democracy: Trends in internet regulation, surveillance and control in Asia.

Abstract

This article argues that the trends in state regulation, survelliance and control of the internet in Asia stand to effectively reduce political expression. A variety of international media watch and human rights organisations have noted that since September 2011, a slew of anti-terrorism laws have been adopted in Asia which place greater restrictions on the internet. Laws against online pornography, gambling, hate speech and spam have been revised to cover online political content and mobilisation. Such measures limit and reduce the space cyberactivists have to push the demogaphic agenda online. These cybersecurity measures, introduced as part of the 'war against terrorism', represent an extension of already draconian regulation in South-East Asian countries.

Keywords

• media regulation
• surveillance
• media controls
• cybersecurity
• cyberspace
• freedom of expression