Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Khairil Zhafri, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Siti Nurliza Samsudin, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prapasiri "Nan" Suttisom, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Pyae Zwe, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Siti Nurliza Samsudin, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prapasiri "Nan" Suttisom, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Pyae Zwe, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is ideal as it embodies the multi-stakeholder dialogue. By positioning participants equally around a shared space, the roundtable creates a collaborative environment where government representatives, technical experts, civil society advocates, and other stakeholders can engage directly with one another. The 60-minute duration provides a focused timeframe that encourages participants to move efficiently from data presentation to constructive dialogue: - 15 mins for presenting key findings and establishing an evidence base - 30 mins for facilitated discussion exploring alternative approaches - 15 mins for synthesis and collaborative identification of principles and next steps The roundtable setting makes it easier to integrate online participants through dedicated screens positioned at the table, giving them equal visual presence alongside in-person attendees. This arrangement creates an environment where participants feel more comfortable sharing perspectives on contentious issues, fostering the honest dialogue necessary to develop practical alternatives to current censorship regimes.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format is ideal as it embodies the multi-stakeholder dialogue. By positioning participants equally around a shared space, the roundtable creates a collaborative environment where government representatives, technical experts, civil society advocates, and other stakeholders can engage directly with one another. The 60-minute duration provides a focused timeframe that encourages participants to move efficiently from data presentation to constructive dialogue: - 15 mins for presenting key findings and establishing an evidence base - 30 mins for facilitated discussion exploring alternative approaches - 15 mins for synthesis and collaborative identification of principles and next steps The roundtable setting makes it easier to integrate online participants through dedicated screens positioned at the table, giving them equal visual presence alongside in-person attendees. This arrangement creates an environment where participants feel more comfortable sharing perspectives on contentious issues, fostering the honest dialogue necessary to develop practical alternatives to current censorship regimes.
Policy Question(s)
1. How can states address legitimate content governance concerns while minimizing impacts on internet functionality, cross-border data flows, and digital rights?
2. What technical, economic, and rights-based frameworks should inform proportionality assessments when evaluating internet filtering and blocking measures?
3. How might multi-stakeholder governance approaches create more effective alternatives to centralized content blocking regimes while maintaining the global interoperability of the internet?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain evidence-based insights into the technical, social, and economic impacts of internet censorship based on three years of comprehensive monitoring data across Asia-Pacific, including:
- Data-driven analysis: Access to comprehensive technical measurements from the iMAP research detailing specific censorship mechanisms, their technical implementations, and effectiveness across multiple countries
- Regulatory perspectives: Understanding of the varied approaches to content regulation across different jurisdictions and their comparative impacts on internet freedom and functionality
- Rights-based frameworks: Practical tools for assessing content regulation proposals against established human rights principles including necessity, proportionality, and transparency
- Alternative models: Exposure to case studies of content governance approaches that have effectively addressed legitimate concerns without resorting to website blocking
The session will equip participants with both analytical frameworks and practical alternatives they can apply to content governance discussions in their own contexts, fostering more informed debate about balancing legitimate regulatory goals with digital rights.
SDGs
Description:
This workshop critically examines internet censorship regimes across Asia-Pacific through evidence-based analysis from the Internet Monitoring Action Project's (iMAP) three-year research initiative. Despite their widespread implementation, our findings demonstrate that website blocking and content filtering mechanisms are not only ineffective at achieving stated policy objectives but also impose significant economic and social costs while undermining fundamental rights. Drawing on comprehensive technical measurements and policy analysis from eight countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, we'll present empirical evidence showing how censorship: - Creates significant collateral damage through over-blocking - Diverts resources from more effective regulatory approaches - Fails to prevent determined users from accessing restricted content - Undermines trust in institutions and internet governance processes The session will move beyond critique to explore proportionate, rights-respecting alternatives to heavy-handed blocking approaches. Through facilitated dialogue between government representatives, civil society organizations, technical experts, and regulatory bodies, we'll examine practical governance frameworks that balance legitimate public interest concerns with fundamental rights. Our interactive format includes: - Data-driven presentation of iMAP technical findings on censorship effectiveness - Case studies highlighting economic and social impacts of filtering regimes - Multi-stakeholder panel examining rights-respecting regulatory alternatives - Collaborative development of principles for proportionate content governance This workshop directly addresses the Digital Trust and Resilience sub-theme by confronting how censorship undermines infrastructure resilience, erodes trust in digital governance, and impacts the integrity of information ecosystems. By bringing together diverse stakeholders – including those with differing views on appropriate content regulation – we aim to foster constructive dialogue on governance approaches that strengthen rather than undermine digital trust.
This workshop critically examines internet censorship regimes across Asia-Pacific through evidence-based analysis from the Internet Monitoring Action Project's (iMAP) three-year research initiative. Despite their widespread implementation, our findings demonstrate that website blocking and content filtering mechanisms are not only ineffective at achieving stated policy objectives but also impose significant economic and social costs while undermining fundamental rights. Drawing on comprehensive technical measurements and policy analysis from eight countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, we'll present empirical evidence showing how censorship: - Creates significant collateral damage through over-blocking - Diverts resources from more effective regulatory approaches - Fails to prevent determined users from accessing restricted content - Undermines trust in institutions and internet governance processes The session will move beyond critique to explore proportionate, rights-respecting alternatives to heavy-handed blocking approaches. Through facilitated dialogue between government representatives, civil society organizations, technical experts, and regulatory bodies, we'll examine practical governance frameworks that balance legitimate public interest concerns with fundamental rights. Our interactive format includes: - Data-driven presentation of iMAP technical findings on censorship effectiveness - Case studies highlighting economic and social impacts of filtering regimes - Multi-stakeholder panel examining rights-respecting regulatory alternatives - Collaborative development of principles for proportionate content governance This workshop directly addresses the Digital Trust and Resilience sub-theme by confronting how censorship undermines infrastructure resilience, erodes trust in digital governance, and impacts the integrity of information ecosystems. By bringing together diverse stakeholders – including those with differing views on appropriate content regulation – we aim to foster constructive dialogue on governance approaches that strengthen rather than undermine digital trust.
Expected Outcomes
- Evidence-based resource: A comprehensive synthesizing the iMAP findings will be published post-session, documenting the technical implementations, effectiveness measurements, and economic impacts of various censorship approaches across Asia-Pacific countries. This resource will serve as a reference for policymakers and advocates working on content governance issues.
- Normative human rights framework: Development of a assessment tool that stakeholders can use to evaluate content governance proposals against established legal standards of necessity, proportionality, and transparency. This framework will be made available as an open resource for policy development.
- Regional working group: Formation of a working group comprising session participants and additional stakeholders to continue developing and promoting rights-respecting alternatives to censorship. This group will connect to established structures through regular reporting.
- Outreach to regulatory bodies: Specific recommendations and briefing materials will be developed for national regulators and international bodies exploring content governance mechanisms, based on session discussions and iMAP research.
Hybrid Format: - A dedicated online moderator whose sole responsibility is monitoring virtual participation, ensuring online comments and questions receive equal attention
- Visual indication of online participants wanting to contribute via a shared screen visible to all roundtable participants
- Regular interventions from the facilitator to explicitly bring in online perspectives, following a structured rotation system
- Collaborative documents projected in the room and shared with online participants for real-time contribution
- Strict time management to ensure discussion segments don't exceed attention spans for online participants
- Technical rehearsals with all speakers to troubleshoot AV issues before the session
- A shared GDoc for collaborative development of the session outcomes, visible to all and enabling real-time contributions
- A dedicated Signal group for back-channel communication between organizers and speakers to address technical issues without disrupting the session
- A post-session virtual breakout room for continued discussion after the formal session concludes