Abstract/Summary

The right to freedom of expression has been subjected to limitations in South East Asia with restrictions continuing in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, to name a few countries. Speech that is critical of governments has been prevented with many instances of journalists, bloggers, activists, and opposition groups being detained and convicted, resulting in contracting space for the press and civil society. Going further, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia have sought to restrict online activities through various means. This State practice report outlines examples of laws enacted in Malaysia and Cambodia and practices in Thailand that impact the online freedom of expression and examines the literature on content moderation and human rights frameworks. The report expounds the risks posed by States who seek to restrict the use of the internet for the freedom of expression and highlights the need for future research to examine the legal frameworks being used by states to limit the online freedom of expression.