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On Day 1 of the Asia-Pacific Digital Rights Forum, participants can choose to attend two of six sessions on some of the most critical digital rights issues in the region today, or one session per breakout timeslot. All breakouts will be conducted online, with English as the primary language.
During the closing plenary, rapporteurs will be invited to share highlights from the breakout sessions with the wider group.
Timeslot 1: 11:30AM-12:30PM Bangkok time (UTC+7)
Breakout Session 1 – Extremism & Hate Speech in the Asia-Pacific
The past decade has seen how digital technologies and ethnoreligious hate can become closely intertwined. This session will allow activists to understand this trend and hear from actors fighting hate speech.
Speakers:
- Noor Huda Ismail, founder of the Institute for International Peace Building, Indonesia
- Bishakha Datta, executive director of Point of View, which works in gender, sexuality and women’s rights
- Hew Wai Weng, Head of the Centre for Occidental Studies at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Breakout Session 2 – Unpacking Gender Justice
Women and LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face discrimination and the denial of the full exercise of their rights. In the digital realm, they are at greater risk of being subjected to gender-based violence, online harassment, and digital surveillance.
Speaker:
- Rita Baramu, Programme Manager at Body and Data, which campaigns for safe and just digital spaces for marginalised groups
- Trishia Nashtaran, Founding President of OGNIE Foundation Bangladesh, which works for a gender-inclusive future through storytelling and design thinking
Breakout Session 3 – Climate Justice and the Internet: The Asia-Pacific Context
The pursuit of ecological justice has been increasingly influenced by the pervasiveness of digitalised society. While video activism has the potential to maximise impact, activists still face significant challenges in advocacy work.
Speakers:
- Dr. Samsul Maarif, head of the graduate school program at the University of Gadjah Mada’s Center for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies
- Imelda Abaño, Senior Coordinator for Internews Earth Journalism Network’s project in the Philippines and Pacific
- Michael Cañares, Strategy Advisor, Step Up Consulting, Philippines
Timeslot 2: 1:30-2:30PM Bangkok time (UTC+7)
Breakout Session 4 – Digital Authoritarianism and its Impact in the Global South
Digital authoritarianism has accelerated amid the pandemic as governments used technology to control information and their citizens’ activities. These measures have normalised state surveillance and worsened censorship of critical voices.
Speakers:
- Damar Juniarto, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
- Dr. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University
- Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, founder of Digitally Right, which supports organisations in adapting to the changing information ecosystem
Breakout Session 5 – Understanding Data Justice
The increasing datafication of society has benefited some while further excluding others. Data justice examines the power dynamics behind the collection, analysis, and use of data, particularly concerning fairness in the way people are represented.
Speakers:
- Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
- Jun-E Tan, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute Malaysia
- Smera Jayadeva, Research Assistant in Data Justice and Global Ethical Futures, Alan Turing Institute
Breakout Session 6 – Online Disinformation in the Asia-Pacific
Capitalising on weak digital education and Big Tech platforms, perpetrators of digital black ops use social media to spread false information and manipulate public opinion. How can we counter disinformation without infringing on freedom of expression?
Speaker:
- Fritz Edward Siregar, Lecturer in Jentera Law School, Indonesia
- Santosh Sigdel, Chairperson and Founding Member, Digital Rights Nepal
Learn more about the keynote panels
Learn more about the Day 2 Breakout Sessions
Join the Asia-Pacific Digital Rights Forum
To sign up for the forum, register for an account on Forum.EngageMedia.org.
- Create your account by filling out the form here.
- Complete your profile information.
- Select from our various sessions on Days 1 to 3 and save your sessions.
