Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Jai Vipra | Towards AI sovereignty: The good, the bad, and the ugly of AI policy in India

2. Matthew Kirschenbaum | Grok is an epistemic weapon

3. Kyle Dane Ballagon | From soft law to hard rules: Pushing for binding AI governance in ASEAN

Blogs / Substacks

1. BlueDot Impact | A playbook for field strategy

2. Center for Humane Technology | The World That Game Theory Built

   Subscribe now

News

1. The Star | Grok controversy a case study in product liability

2. Kompas | Grok Makin Banyak Diblokir di Asia Tenggara

3. Sinar Harian | MCMC arah sekatan sementara AI Grok susulan pelanggaran kandungan

4. Bangkok Biz News | จับตารัฐขยับเข็น “กฎหมาย AI” ไทย วางสมดุลนวัตกรรม–ความปลอดภัย (Keep an eye on the government’s moves to push through Thailand’s “AI Law”, balancing innovation and security)

5. Tech in Asia | Indonesia prepares two presidential regulations on AI

6. Việt Nam News | UN Under-Secretary-General, Hoa Lâm Group discuss human-centred AI healthcare

7. Taipei Times | Group warns over use of Chinese-made AI

8. South China Morning Post | As more nations block Grok for obscene content, calls for ASEAN-wide curbs mount

9. Reuters | South Korea launches landmark laws to regulate AI, startups warn of compliance burdens

Reports

1. DEMOS | Epistemic Security for Crisis Resilience

2. Reuters Institute | Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2026

3. Aspen Digital | Mind the Gap: AI and the Future of news in Latin America

4. Responsible AI Governance Network | The 2025 Responsible AI Governance Landscape

5. Concordia.ai | State of AI Safety in China 2025

   (margin*notes) ^squared is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Government / UN / CSO Announcements

1. Indonesia | Pernyataan resmi menteri komunikasi dan digital RI

2. People’s Republic of China | 加强安全监管，促进人工智能健康发展——新修改的网络安全法本月起施行 (Strengthening security oversight and promoting the healthy development of artificial intelligence—the newly revised Cybersecurity Law takes effect this month)

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Featured Resources 1:

| The Battle for Cognitive Liberty in the Age of Corporate AI

This is hands down the best piece I’ve read on the real harms we are facing from an AI ‘revolution’ driven by perverse market incentives, billionaire bros, and the system which the powerful have created to internalise the lucrative returns on manipulating our cognition while externalising all the harms.

There are so many great take-aways and pull out quotes from here that I can’t put them all in this post. But one that really stood out for me is this:

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.”

And if you thought an American democracy could be counted on, think again:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢’𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦’𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.”

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. CNAS | The Export Control Loophole Fueling China’s Chip Production

2. Paris Marx | Getting of US tech: a guide

3. Belfer Center | Middle Powers: An Intellectual Framework

4. Michael Geoffrey Asia | The Emotional Labor behind AI Intimacy

5. East Asia Forum Editors | As the United States walks away, Asia can’t give up on the rules based economic order

6. Joseph Stiglitz | America’s Age of Empire

7. Daron Acemoglu | What Now for the “Rules-Based Order”?

8. Jorge G. Castrañeda | Yankee Go Home, Again

9. Courtney C. Radsch | The Battle for Cognitive Liberty in the Age of Corporate AI

Blogs / Substacks

1. Center for Humane Technology and Josh Lash | China isn’t racing the U.S. toward the same AI future

2. Derja | AI governance did not happen.

3. Derja | Redefining Hope in AI (Part 1): A personal reckoning with responsibility

Subscribe now

News

1. Fortune | Why Singapore is the only Southeast Asian country in Pax Silica, the U.S.’s new AI ‘inner circle’

2. Reuters Special Report | Meta tolerates rampant ad fraud from China to safeguard billions in revenue

3. The Nation | Trump exit from 66 bodies raises global policy risk

4. The Asia Business Daily | China Criticizes U.S. withdrawal from Multiple International Organisations: “We will uphold multilateralism”

5. The Standard | ทรัมป์พาสหรัฐฯ ถอนตัว 66 องค์การระหว่างประเทศ กระทบโลกและไทยอย่างไร

6. Xinhua | China affirms support for UN following U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organisations

7. Global Times (China) | US pulling out of international bodies “is no longer news”: Chinese FM on US withdrawal from 66 international organisations

8. AP | Malaysia and Indonesia become first to block Musk’s Grok over sexualised AI images

9. AP | China to probe Meta’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus

10. Asia News Network | Why South Korea is vying to be first to regulate AI

Reports

1. 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media | The Impact of the Gaza Blockade and the Destruction of Telecommunications Infrastructure on the Digital Economy Amidst Genocide

2. Centre for Democracy & Technology | Risky Business: Advanced AI Companies’ Race for Revenue

3. Digital Good Network | Derya Ozkul, Marie Godin | Exclusion by Design: Digital Identification and the Hostile Environment for Migrants

Government / UN / CSO Announcements

1. United States | Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States

2. People’s Republic of China | Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on January 9, 2026

3. Taiwan, Republic of China | MODA Strongly Condemns Cyber Violence and Urges All Sectors to Work Together in Protecting Digital Human Rights

4. Taiwan, Republic of China | Legislative Yuan Passes Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act in Third Reading, Laying Foundation for AI Innovation, Security Governance in Taiwan

5. Observacom | Shadow Banning”: The Subtle and Covert Censorship of the Major Tech Platforms (in English, Spanish and Portuguese)

6. 7amleh | 7amleh Calls on Linkedin not to Support Annexation Policies and Settlement Discourse

Company Announcements

1. Meta | Human Rights Report 2024

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Instagram | On Empathy (not the title but an IG video I saw that I think you’ll like)

2. Reboot Democracy | Using AI to Support Public Deliberation: A Conversation with Audrey Tang

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Featured Resources 1:

Personal Data Architectures in the BRICS Countries

By Luca Belli (ed.), Walter Britto Gasper (ed.)

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of personal data protection frameworks within the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and explores the potential for enhanced cooperation as regards the management and regulation of international data flows, amongst the increasing number of new group members. This study is particularly relevant in light of the recent BRICS commitment, enshrined in the grouping’s 2024 Declaration, aimed at jointly promoting ‘a global framework for data governance’. The ways in which this policy objective can be achieved are explored in the conclusion of this volume, highlighting what concrete path might be realistically followed by the group.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Cornelia Walther | Three Years of ChatGPT, and No End in Sight: The growing impact of generative AI on your brain

2. Mohammed R. Mhawish | Watched, Tracked, and Targeted: Live in Gaza under Israel’s all-encompassing surveillance regime

3. LibDaD Consulting | Digital Sovereignty, Not Digital Vassalage: What does ASEAN’s DEFA mean for Timor-Leste’s Digital Future?

4. Casey Newton | Where Meta’s biggest experiment in governance went wrong

5. Dien Nguyen An Luong, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute | Commentary: Vietnam’s police are joking online and that makes their messaging more serious

6. Igor Omilaev, The Conversation | Australia’s national AI plan has just been released: Who exactly will benefit?

7. Jarad Kaplan (Anthropic) in The Guardian | The biggest decision yet

Blogs / Substacks

1. University of Sydney | Australia’s national AI plan released: experts respond

2. Ethical AI Alliance | The Invisible Architecture of AI Harm: A collective report from Mozfest’25 Toward a global Accountability Architecture

3. University of Oxford | Expert Comment: Is it time to reconsider our human rights in the age of AI?

   Subscribe now

News

1. The Guardian | Trump administration moves to deny visas to fact checkers and content moderators

2. Wall Street Journal | Microsoft, Anthropic Hire Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

3. Jakarta Globe | Israel to provide Thailand with air defense systems

4. Dien Nguyen An Luong, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute | Commentary: Vietnam’s police are joking online and that makes their messaging more serious

5. Bangkok Post | Cybercriminals increasingly prey on small firms

6. ABC Australia | Artificial intelligence to be managed through existing laws under National AI Plan

7. Coingeek | UN human rights chief warns of AI misuse and corporate power

8. The Times of India | Godfather of AI: Bill Gates and Elon Musk right about AI replacing humans, but they forget that…

Reports

1. CSIS | The Global Alignment Index: Tracking Support for US, Chinese and Russian Leadership

2. EngageMedia and Myanmar Internet Project | Myanmar Digital Coup Quarterly: August 2025 - October 2025 (English Translation)

3. UNDP | The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries

4. UNDP | Human Development Report 2025 - A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI (May 2025)

5. Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence | Issue Brief, HAI Policy & Society, Moving Beyond the Term “Global South” in AI Ethics and Policy

   Thanks for reading (margin*notes) ^squared! This post is public so feel free to share it.

   Share

Government / UN / CSO Announcements

1. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights | APHR Condemns US Move to end TPS for Myanmar Nationals: A Decision that Endangers Lives

2. European Commission and Singapore | European Union and Singapore discuss reinforcing digital cooperation through Digital Partnership Council

3. Singapore | European Union-Singapore Digital Partnership (EUSDP)

4. UNESCO & Timor-Leste | Timor-Leste: Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report

5. United Nations | Appointment of the Next UN Secretary-General: Joint Letter from the Presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly

6. Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, ITU, and ISO | Seoul Statement from the International AI Standards Summit (02 Dec 2025), Seoul, Republic of Korea

7. Australia | National AI Plan

Company Announcements

1. Reuters | Meta acquires AI-wearables startup Limitless

2. Axios | Meta strikes multiple AI deals with news publishers

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Right Livelihood Award 2025 | Reshaping Power, Together | Audrey Tang

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Featured Resources 1:

(shameless plug for a podcast I did recently with Dr. Bridget Welsh at Straight Talk Southeast Asia!)

Straight Talk Southeast Asia, Season 3, Ep 46 | EP114: AI Governance in Southeast Asia with Michael Bak

Featured Resources 2:

(sharing this again this week as it is a project I worked on and want to help spread the word!)

Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: The State of Knowledge on News Media, AI, and Data Governance

Robin Mansell, Flavia Durach, Matthias Kettemann, Théophile Lenoir, Rob Procter, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Emily Tucker

Abstract: A critical assessment of why today’s information ecosystems are troubling for democracy, this book, based on research in the Global North and Global Majority World, examines changes in news media, artificial intelligence, and data governance. It focuses on measures to improve the quality of public discourse, protect media freedoms, and ensure the resilience of public institutions. The analysis highlights policies aimed at enhancing the accountability and resilience of information ecosystems in the face of the increasing weaponisation of information.

Of interest to academics, policymakers, business, and civil society, the book showcases worldwide efforts to tackle Big Tech data extractive and monetisation practices, address news media instability, and ensure artificial intelligence applications are compatible with democratic values. This book is essential reading for everyone seeking to reimagine what justice in a datafied world could be.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Rush Doshi | The Moment China Proved It Was America’s Equal

2. Emnet Tafesse and Abigail Oppong, Data & Society | Democratizing AI for the Global Majority

3. Abeba Birhane, Scripted: A Journal of Law, Technology & Society | Algorithmic Colonization of Africa

4. Younus Al Nasser | AI should build a future where technology serves people

5. Karthik Nachiappan and Mriganika Singh Tanwar, National University of Singapore | Modeling a Generative India-Singapore AI Partnership

6. Vitit Muntarbhorn | Combatting online child exploitation

7. Anna Abelinde, PhilStar | ​​Ending child exploitation means rethinking inclusion

8. Gelo Gonzales | [DECODED] The fight for digital agency as AI race heats up

9. Interview with Nguyen Anh Tuan | The soul of innovation is conscience, not code

Blogs / Substacks

1. ABC News Australia | Australia’s eSafety commissioner called to testify before US Congress and labelled a ‘zealot’

2. Coingeek | Philippine lawmaker calls for ‘Digital Bayanihan’

3. UNDP Lao PDR | Harnessing AI for Human Development requires future-proofed parliaments

   Subscribe now

News

1. Bangkok Post | Journalist indicted in Thailand for allegedly defaming Malaysian government

2. Fortune | AIs may replace people in Southeast Asia’s scam complexes – and that could undercut the drive to stop them

3. Tempo | ILO Warns Indonesia to Tighten AI Controls to Avert Gender Bias in the Workforce

4. Tempo | Amnesty Calls for Revocation of Indonesia’s KUHAP Revision

5. Channel News Asia | Google DeepMind opens AI research lab in Singapore, its first in Southeast Asia

6. Rappler | Rappler summit highlights dangers of AI, need for gov’t intervention

7. Việt Nam News | National Assembly sets legal framework to guide responsible AI growth

8. Vietnam+ | Draft Law on Artificial Intelligence hoped to create enough space for AI to thrive

9. OpenGov | Vietnam: Draft Law Under NA Review to Advance AI Regulation

10. Nikkei Asia | Vietnamese government plans to enter into security industry

11. Xinhua, Malaysia Sun | China moves forward with its “AI Plus” initiative

12. New Straits Times | Anwar’s China visit has bolstered Malaysia’s rising strategic profile

Reports

1. East Asia Forum | Thailand-Cambodia border agreement on shaky ground

2. Counterpunch | How the Rightwing has Used AI and Influencers to Make Up an Anti-Government Movement in Mexico

   (margin*notes) ^squared is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Government / UN Announcements

1. UNESCO | ‘It’s something I can bring back to my own country’: Judges across Asia debate the risks and opportunities of AI in courts

Company Announcements

1. Google DeepMind | We’re expanding our presence in Singapore to advance AI in the Asia-Pacific region

Podcasts/Webinars

1. How to Save Democracy | Taiwan’s Transformation (with Audrey Tang)

2. Straight Talk Southeast Asia | EP114: AI Governance in Southeast Asia with Michael Bak

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Featured Resource:

Information Ecosystems and Troubled Democracy: The State of Knowledge on News Media, AI, and Data Governance

Robin Mansell, Flavia Durach, Matthias Kettemann, Théophile Lenoir, Rob Procter, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Emily Tucker

Abstract: A critical assessment of why today’s information ecosystems are troubling for democracy, this book, based on research in the Global North and Global Majority World, examines changes in news media, artificial intelligence, and data governance. It focuses on measures to improve the quality of public discourse, protect media freedoms, and ensure the resilience of public institutions. The analysis highlights policies aimed at enhancing the accountability and resilience of information ecosystems in the face of the increasing weaponisation of information.

Of interest to academics, policymakers, business, and civil society, the book showcases worldwide efforts to tackle Big Tech data extractive and monetisation practices, address news media instability, and ensure artificial intelligence applications are compatible with democratic values. This book is essential reading for everyone seeking to reimagine what justice in a datafied world could be.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Jake Laperruque | ICE’s reckless reliance on facial recognition puts us all in danger

2. Hong Sung-Ook, The Chosun Daily | AI Interviews Stem from Distrust in Humanity

3. Rajiv Kumar, The Diplomat | The Gyeongju Summit was a turning point for APEC

4. Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch | Indonesia’s President declares late dictator Soeharto a ‘National Hero’: Whitewashing history undermines efforts to bring justice for victims

5. Will Mortenson, New Atlanticist | Gen Z protests have spread to seven countries. What do they all have in common?

6. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri, Carnegie Endowment | The promises and pitfalls of the social media-fueled Gen-Z protests across Asia

7. Nur Hani Zainal, National University of Singapore | Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

8. Dang Nguyen, Noema | A third path for AI beyond the US-China binary

Blogs / Substacks

1. Stella Njogo | Youth movements in the global majority are writing a new blueprint for change: Why the Nepal Gen-Z protests confirm a new era of Youth-led transitions

   Subscribe now

News

1. Reuters | Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show

2. Quantum Zeitgeist | Philippine Expert Advocates Culturally-Responsive AI in Education

3. Union of Catholic Asian News | Korean Bishop: AI should benefit everyone, not just the few

4. The Nation | Thailand’s digital competitiveness declines: urgent reform needed to adapt to AI era

5. The Nation | WEF president warns of potential global economic bubbles in AI, public debt, and cryptocurrency

6. France24 | Concentration of corporate power a ‘huge’ concern: UN rights chief

7. The Sun Malaysia | UN rights chief warns of unregulated tech giants’ power

8. Bangkok Post | Thailand tightens mobile banking transfer limits

9. Jerusalem Post | Singapore to field Israeli Hermes 900 drones with 36 hour endurance

10. CNN | Two of China’s most popular gay dating apps have disappeared from app stores

Reports

1. Md Tasin Abir, Arpita Chowdhury, Ashfia Rahman | Monsoon Uprising in Bangladesh: how Facebook shaped collective identity

2. Australian Strategic Policy Institute | In whose tech we trust: Part 1- Mapping Indo-Pacific security approaches to foreign owned, controlled or influenced technology (pdf)

3. BBC | Tim Berners-Lee: The man who dreamed of the world wide web

4. International IDEA | Amazonian Climate Deliberation: Insights from three citizen assemblies on climate finance held ahead of COP30

   (margin*notes) ^squared is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Government / UN Announcements

1. OHCHR | Human Rights Council reschedules human rights review of the United States of America; regrets “non-cooperation” with UPR mechanism

2. OHCHR Special Procedures | Malaysia: UN experts call for Thanakorn Sinsanoi’s release

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Straight Talk Southeast Asia | EP114: AI Governance in Southeast Asia with Michael Bąk

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Paddy Leerssen | From Murdoch to Musk: Platform ownership and the political economy of online content governance

2. Prateek Waghre | India’s search for digital sovereignty

3. Audrey Tang | AI alignment cannot be top-down

4. Anton Stravinsky | Biometrics at the border: the legal and ethical implications in 2026

5. Samaya Anjum | Dispatch from Hanoi: UN Cybercrime Treaty signing exposes a highly state-centric process

Blogs / Substacks

1. Di Rifai, The Inflection Point | Too Big to Fail: The AI bubble and America’s new state capitalism

2. Manish Maheshwari | Deepfakes and Democracy: India’s test of digital maturity

3. Audrey Tang | Speech at SEWF (Social Enterprise World Forum)

Subscribe now

News

1. New York Post | Top US Army General says he’s using ChatGPT to help make key command decisions

2. Economic Times | No degree, no discussion? China tightens the grip on influencers and its new law has sparked massive debate online

3. OpenGov | Indonesia: Balancing innovation, ethics and sovereignty

4. Antara | From gambling to AI: Indonesia rejects global digital colonialism

5. Malay Mail | “Remain Human”: Anwar urges APEC to lead in responsible AI and tech use

6. Bernama | Digital transformation, AI at helm of APEC meet; Malaysia highlights moral, environmental risks of greater adoption

7. The Nation | Thaicom harnesses Thai-made AI to boost agriculture and curb pollution

Reports

1. OSCE, Forum on Information and Democracy | Policy Manual: Safeguarding Media Freedom in the Age of Big Tech Platforms and AI

2. Forum on Information and Democracy | Twenty-nine Governments Join Forces in Defense of Access to Free and Reliable Information Worldwide: Historic Paris Declaration on Multilateral Action Lays Out Commitments by Leading Democracies

Government / UN Announcements

1. UNODC | UN Convention against Cybercrime opens for signature in Hanoi, Viet Nam

2. OHCHR | Call for input for EMRTD study “Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Rights, and the Right to Development” (deadline 30 November)

Podcasts/Webinars

1. PBS Firing Line with Margaret Hoover | With Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s ambassador-at-large and former Digital Minister

Opportunities

1. Salzburg Global | Asia Policy Leadership Forum (APLF) – Leadership in a Digital Age: Technology, Society, and Governance in Asia, deadline 10 November

2. The Asia Foundation | Development Fellows Program, deadline 10 November

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

HIGHLIGHT:

AI Ethics Navigator | How to integrate cultural context and nuance, and still scale for global ethics frameworks → shameless plug for podcast I joined!

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Beth Kerley | Tech Policy Press | Autocrats’ digital advances underscore the need for civil society

2. Sharon Bong | Big News Network | Interview with Sharon Bong

3. Tulsathit Taptim | Thai PBS World | Not everyone is laughing

4. Matt Sheehan and Scott Singer | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | How China views AI risks and what to do about them

Blogs / Substacks

1. Mohamed Shahudh | UNDP Philippines | Rising with the Machines: Harnessing AI for human development

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News

1. The Nation | ASEAN and UNESCO urge digital governance to tackle online threats

2. Việt Nam News | Việt Nam needs legal framework for safe, transparent AI development: experts

3. Chosun Daily | UN urges South Korea to act on Southeast Asia human rights crisis

4. Reuters | Laos plans to pull the plug on crypto miners by early 2026

5. ABC News | Watchdog report says American e-waste is causing a ‘hidden tsunami’ in Southeast Asia

6. Bangkok Post | Border row claims activist as victim

7. Herald Malaysia Online | Church in Thailand releases guidelines to humanize technology and uphold faith online

8. The Nation | Over 800 global tech leaders urge halt to development of superintelligent AI

9. Tempo | Amnesty International: Human Rights Situation Has Deteriorated Under Prabowo-Gibran’s One-Year Rule

10. Jakarta Post | Prabowo’s first year shows steep human rights decline

11. BBC News Indonesia | Setahun pemerintahan Prabowo-Gibran – ‘Arah balik demokrasi’ dan apa saja tantangan yang mungkin dihadapi ke depan?

12. Rappler | AI, trust, and civic resilience take center stage at Social Good Summit 2025

13. The Straits Times | Gruelling, low-paid human work behind generative AI curtain

14. Prachatai | Australian journalist says personal vengeance and fear-mongering in Malaysia fuel defamation case against him in Thailand

15. Prachatai | UN Special Rapporteur concerned over death threats against Thai senator in “ghost sounds” row

16. Reuters | Australia tells AI chatbot companies to detail child protection steps

Reports

1. Amnesty International Indonesia | Setahun Pemerintahan Prabowo-Gibran, situasi HAM mengalami erosi terparah

2. Ruijgrok, Berenschot, Gaw, Sombatpoonsiri, Wijayanto, Agonos and Sastramidjaja | Towards the comparative study of domestic influence operations: cyber troops and elite competition in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand

Government / UN Announcements

1. Aotearoa New Zealand | Southeast Asia - the Foreign Policy reset

2. Antara | AI roadmap to balance innovation, protection: deputy minister

3. UN IGF | Dynamic Coalition on Data and Artificial Intelligence Governance (DC-DAIG)

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Straight Talk Southeast Asia | Media Freedom in Southeast Asia with Bey Lih Yi

2. AI Ethics Navigator | How to integrate cultural context and nuance, and still scale for global ethics frameworks (with me!)

Opportunities

1. United Nations | Open Call for candidates to serve on the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Kenneth Roth | The Guardian | Trump’s Attacks on George Soros is the next step in the autocrat’s handbook

2. 7amleh | Human Rights Organisations Call for Accountability and Transparency: Microsoft’s Role in Facilitating Human Rights Violations Against Palestinians

3. Access Now, Amnesty International, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Human Rights Watch, 7amleh, Fight for the Future | Microsoft must come clean on its role in Israel’s war in Gaza

4. Anisa Abeytia | The New Humanitarian | Model drift: How subtle shifts in AI responses could undermine crisis response

5. Carter Quinley | The Diplomat | Why Tech Firms Can’t Afford to Ignore Southeast Asia’s Cyber Scam Slavery Crisis

Blogs / Substacks

1. Zilan Qian | ChinaTalk Substack | Why America builds AI Girlfriends and China Makes AI Boyfriends

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News

1. Reuters | Myanmar groups to sue Telenor over data sharing with junta

2. Mashable SE Asia | Amazon Ring plans to use facial recognition scans

3. Asahi Shimbun | New OpenAI app raises concerns about copyright violations

4. BBC News Thai | ทำความเข้าใจ ด้อมส้ม-นางแบก ซูเปอร์แฟนเหมือนกันที่ไม่เหมือนกัน

5. Advox Global Voices | Australian researcher arrested in Thailand for allegedly defaming Malaysian government

6. Jakarta Post | Breaking the silence: Deaf lawyers make judicial history in Indonesia

7. Malay Mail | Fahmi, Gobind call for stronger digital ecosystem to drive Malaysia’s AI future

8. Free Malaysia Today | Malaysia’s AI bank breaks ground, setting new industry benchmarks

9. The Edge Malaysia | Healthtech: Is ‘empathetic AI’ an oxymoron?

10. Business Today | PM Anwar Urges Human-Centred Approach In National Development

11. The Manila Times | Commission on Human Rights (CHR) issues position paper on promoting human rights-based approaches in establishing legal frameworks for artificial intelligence

12. Manila Standard | CHR: Magna Carta for responsible AI

13. Straits Times | Criminal syndicates tapping AI to improve scams, human trafficking: Interpol

Reports

1. Media, Culture and Society Journal | Jeroen de Kloet, Thomas Poell | Why the everyday is essential: Navigating censorship and surveillance on WeChat in China

2. FAI | Web of Dependencies: A history of American tech companies’ complicity in China’s techno-authoritarian agenda

3. Human Rights Watch | Israel/Palestine: Microsoft Should Avoid Contributing to Rights Abuses

Government / UN Announcements

1. Timor Leste, UNESCO | Announcement of the Publication of Timor Leste’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)

2. UN OHCHR | A/80/341: Threats to freedom of expression online in turbulent times

3. Government of the Philippines, Commission on Human Rights | Position Paper on House Bills Promoting the Development and Regulation of and Establishing aFramework for Artificial Intelligence

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Straight Talk Southeast Asia with Bridget Welsh | Podcast EP110: Media Freedom in Southeast Asia with Bey Lih Yi

Opportunities

1. United Nations | Open Call for candidates to serve on the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Yewande O. Addie and Jasmine McNealy | Tech Policy Press | Lessons from Nigeria and Kenya on Digital Colonialism in AI Health Messaging

2. Citizen Lab | We Say You Want a Revolution - PRISONBREAK - An AI-enabled influence operation aimed at overthrowing the Iranian regime

3. Reuters | How China waged an infowar against US interests in the Philippines

4. ISEAS Yusaf Ishak Institute | John Lee | The AI-robotics revolution, China-US rivalry and Southeast Asia

5. Right Livelihood | Announcement of the 2025 Laureates (includes Myanmar, Pacific Island, and Taiwan)

6. Sun Star | Janette Toral | Whose data counts?

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News

1. Reuters | China’s Huawei co-develops DeepSeek model, improves censoring

2. Straits Times | Google to screen, block Singapore users under 18 years old from inappropriate apps by March 2026

3. Financial Review | Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report

4. Bangkok Post | Local AI growth threatened as a result of skills shortages

5. Fortune | The AI bubble will pop, Intelligence won’t

6. Time Magazine | Why Indonesia suspended – then un-suspended – Tiktok’s operating license

7. GovInsider | Indonesia healthcare AI hackathon targets nation’s most urgent health challenges

8. Kompas | Pancasila dan jalan pulang demokrasi ( English Version: Pancasila and the road home to democracy)

9. Batam News Asia | Indonesia ranks third globally: Komdigi warns against rising AI-driven child exploitation

10. Manila Bulletin | CHR: Use of AI should not sacrifice workers’ rights

11. Daily Guardian | Experts warn AI may deepen Philippines’ digital divide

12. Channel News Asia | Hong Kong to install surveillance cameras with AI facial recognition

13. Marketech APAC | Seven in ten Singapore workers frustrated with AI tools, survey shows

14. Straits Times | 3 in 4 Singapore teachers use AI, more than double overseas peers: OECD survey

15. Vietnam Net Global | Vietnam seeks responsible AI use in digital communication

16. Asahi Shimbun | UN plans to greatly increase use of AI to offset budget cuts

17. Mint (India) | What if AI is quietly fixing prices without anyone noticing?

18. Tatler Asia | How the Tech for Good Institute is building a people-first digital economy

Reports

1. Engage Media | Report: Tracing the Indonesian Government’s AI Technology Procurement Track from 2021 to 2024

2. Privacy International | Challenging the Militarisation of Tech

3. Dev Discourse | Cultural bias and algorithmic injustice threaten AI’s role in disability inclusion

4. Hankyoreh | How Taiwan uses digital democracy to fight AI misinfo and foster social dialogue

   (margin*notes) ^squared is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Government Announcements

1. Republic of Korea | 인공지능기본법 하위법령 및 가이드라인(안) 대국민 의견수렴(080-137-1300) Public Opinion Collection for the Draft Subordinate Legislation and Guidelines of the Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence (080-137-1300)

2. Malaysia | Discussion Paper on Artificial Intelligence in the Malaysian Financial Sector (public comment period until 17 October)

3. Malaysia | Public Consultation: Content Code Review (Public Consultation period 17 Sept - 07 Nov 2025)

4. Taiwan, Republic of China | 公部門人工智慧應用參考手冊（草案）(Reference Manual on Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Public Sector (Draft)

Global North Announcements

1. Monash University | Monash University establishes AI partnership with Singapore Institute of Technology

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Channel News Asia | Asia’s climate goals at risk from AI energy demands: Climate Impact X

2. Straight Talk Southeast Asia | Trends in Transnational Crime with Jason Tower (hosted by Bridget Welsh)

Opportunities

1. United Nations | Open Call for candidates to serve on the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

HEADS-UP! Super happy to have collaborated in small ways on this Policy Brief issued last week by the Ethical AI Alliance at UNGA80. (Full disclosure I’m Global Advisor, Asia, for the alliance.) Please read and share!

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Digital Peace | When Peace Becomes Unprofitable: Big Tech, AI and Warfare

2. Azka Haria Fitra Agus | Tech Global Institute | How coercive voluntarism became Indonesia’s playbook for crisis speech

3. Navy Pillay | New York Times | My U.N. Commission’s Finding: Israel is Committing Genocide

4. Cornelia Walther | Forbes | AI and (Dis)Ability: Unlocking Human Potential with Technology

5. Aylgorith | The Human Cost of Every ChatGPT Query: Inside the Cobalt Mines That Power AI

6. The New Statesman | Inside the Tony Blair Institute: Who really benefits from the former PM’s tech evangelism?

7. Vilas Dhar | The UN’s AI Turning Point

8. Joanna Wiaterek, Jared Perlo, Sumaya Nur Aan | AI safety and security can enable innovation in Global Majority countries

9. Dimitri Mahayana | Kompas | AI, Plutocracy, dan Langkah Berani Permerintah

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News

1. The Guardian | UC Berkeley Shares 160 names with Trump administration in ‘McCarthy era’ move: Prominent professor Judith Butler among students and faculty investigated for ‘alleged antimsemitic incidents’

2. The New Arab | From Palestine to Syria: How AI shapes environmental and social inequalities in MENA

3. Bangkok Post | Hong Kong seeks to limit children’s digital device use amid rising myopia rates

4. South China Morning Post | (Editorial) China forges own path to AI ecosystem free from US dominance

5. BBC | China launches campaign to keep killjoys off the internet

6. WSJ | China’s DeepSeek unveils new AI model that could halve usage cost

7. The Nation (Thailand) | Thailand deploys AI to hunt criminals in proactive bid for 2 million Chinese tourists

8. Asia News Network | Thai students develop AI system to protect communities from wild elephant incursions

9. AXIOS | Exclusive: Meta launches super PAC to fight AI regulation

10. 360info | Rights on demand: Asia’s gig economy gets a legal upgrade

11. Kompas | Komdigi akan bikin aturan etika penggunaan AI

12. Philstar | Philippines to UNSC: Regulate military use of artificial intelligence

13. Rappler | What if no journalists were left to expose corruption?

14. Rappler | Global call for AI ‘red lines’ urges further international policies, checks on development

15. Rappler | Where AI falls short: The limits of artificial emotional support

Reports

1. The Asia Foundation | Reimagining civil society support in the Asia Pacific

2. The National Bureau of Asian Research | The outlook for China’s AI industry: Adoption and Applications

3. Ethical AI Alliance | Policy Brief: Filling the Accountability Gap: Towards a Global Monitoring & Reporting Mechanism for AI Harms

Government Announcements

1. China | China Solicits Public Comments on Draft Supervisory Committee Provisions for Personal Information Protection

2. Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka calls for collective action on AI inequalities at UNGA 80

Global North Announcements

1. International Standards Organisation | ISO Policy Brief: Harnessing international standards for responsible AI development and governance

2. OECD | AI governance through global red lines can help prevent unacceptable risks

3. World Economic Forum | Advancing Responsible AI Innovation: A Playbook

Podcasts/Webinars

1. Tech Global Institute | From Laws to Rights: Defending Digital Freedoms in Bangladesh’s Democratic Transition with UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan

2. Cooperative AI Foundation Summer School | Empowering Collective Intelligence: Radical Collaboration with AI - with Audrey Tang

3. The History of Ideas Podcast | Fixing Democracy: Citizens’ Assemblies

4. The Polis Project | Technologies of Genocide: Suchitra Vijayan in Conversation with Tech Global Institute, Bangladesh

Opportunities

1. United Nations | Open Call for candidates to serve on the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. SAFEnet | Bahaya Polisi Siber

2. NetMission.Asia | Socheata Sokhachan | A journey that changed how I see the internet

News

1. NRK | Fuck Off, Telenor!

2. Bangkok Post | Team to probe money flows linked to baht

3. The Business Times | Two China firms launch autonomous shuttle services in Singapore

4. Straits Times | Malaysia grapples with AI legal grey zone as deepfake porn blackmail targets lawmakers

5. Straits Times | Indonesian government puts out full-page newspaper ad on military’s expanded role

6. Straits Times | ‘We need to prey on people’s emotions’: A Malaysian’s 10-month ordeal in Myanmar scam centre

7. Straits Times | Mandatory AI literacy course for all public servants; leaders must be open to using AI; DPM Gan

8. Korea Herald | ‘Kpop Demon Hunters live-action leak’ stuns fans, but revealed to be AI

9. New Straits Times | Meta urged to step up action to tackle online gambling, scams, fake news

10. New Straits Times | MACC: Over-reliance on AI could compromise court evidence

11. New Straits Times | Digital Ministry plan global AI event with Education, Higher Education Ministries

12. The Nation | TAT unveils AI-driven strategy to elevate Thai tourism

13. Prachatai | 31-year-old jailed for royal defamation over Facebook comment

14. Prachatai | Deaf people in crisis during three-month sign language center blackout

15. Prachatai | Thai cartoonist sentenced to prison for royal defamation over royal caricatures

16. Prachatai | Clothing vendor indicted for royal defamation over Facebook posts

Reports

1. United Nations Human Rights Council | Legal analysis of the conduct of Israel in Gaza pursuant to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Government Announcements

1. China | 16 Sept 2025 | 关于公开征求《未成年人用户数量巨大和对未成年人群体具有显著影响的网络平台服务提供者认定办法（征求意见稿）》意见的通知 [Notice on Publicly Soliciting Opinions on the "Measures for Identifying Internet Platform Service Providers with a Large Number of Minor Users and a Significant Impact on Minors (Draft for Comment)"]

2. Vietnam | 15 Sept 2025 | Sẽ có bản cập nhật Chiến lược AI quốc gia và Luật AI (There will be an update to the National AI Strategy and AI Law)

3. Vietnam | 16 Sept 2025 | AI law to be enacted in 2025

4. India | 01 Sept 2025 | Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches Beta Version of Adi Vaani – India’s 1st AI-Powered Translator for Tribal Languages Leading to Large Language Model, PIB

Global North Announcements

1. OECD | OECD encourages responsible use of AI by governments to strengthen efficiency, effectiveness and trust

Podcasts

1. Straight Talk | EP106: India and Southeast Asia, with Dr Rahul Mishra

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Eco-Business | Muyi Yang, Xiwei Xu, DAvid Lo | Beyond green data centres: Leaner, smarter AI for Southeast Asia’s sustainable digital future

2. Tech Policy Press | Samik Kharel | Lessons from Nepal on the high cost of controlling online expression

3. Forbes | Cornelia Walther | AI and (Dis)Ability: Unlocking human potential with technology

News

1. Channel News Asia | New Nepal PM vows to follow protesters’ demands to ‘end corruption’

2. India Today: Those killed in Gen Z protests to be declared martyrs: New Nepal PM’s 1st address

3. BBC | Nepal’s major parties say dissolved parliament must be reinstated

4. Khaosod English | Thailand emerges as top OpenAI growth market in Southeast Asia

5. Reuters | Malaysia reins in data centre growth, complicating China’s AI chip access

6. Jakarta Post | AI must not ignore human rights

7. Tech in Asia | Movers and shakers in India’s genAI space

8. Tech in Asia | Movers and shakers in Southeast Asia’s genAI space

9. South China Morning Post | Cyberport may use Chinese GPUs at Hong Kong supercomputing hub to cut reliance on Nvidia

10. OpenGov Asia | Indonesia: Nusantara Lima satellite strengthens digital connectivity

11. OpenGov Asia | Singapore: Strengthening security and resilience in the age of AI

12. Al Jazeera | UN warns online scam centres hitting Southeast Asia moving to East Timor

Reports

1. EngageMedia | Civil Society Position Paper: Centering Human Rights in the National AI Strategy Towards #GoldenIndonesia2045

2. RSIS | Margareth Sembiring, Danielle Lynn Goh | Artificial Intelligence and Energy Transition in Southeast Asia

3. International Journal of Developmental Studies | Advancing disability inclusion in Thailand through AI for sustainable development

Global North Government Announcements

1. United States | FTC Launches Inquiry into AI Chatbots Acting as Companions

2. United States | Treasury Sanctions Southeast Asian Networks Targeting Americans with Cyber Scams

Company Announcements

1. Tesla | Tesla offers mammoth $1 trillion pay package to Musk, sets lofty targets

Podcasts

1. Taiwan Plus | How the Internet Can ACTUALLY Bring People Together to Solve Problems with Audrey Tang

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Purple Code Collective | Ringkasan Eksekutif Penelitian Privasi Feminis: Otonomi dan Agensi Lintas Dimensi (English: Executive Summary of Feminist Privacy: Cross-Dimensional Autonomy and Agency)

2. The Diplomat | James Gomez | Asia Centre’s AI Hub: Advancing Democracy and Human Rights

3. Forbes | Rediscovering Humanity: How indigenous wisdom can guide our AI future

4. CSIS | Hpone Thit Htoo | Beyond the Matrix: AI governance gaps in Southeast Asia

5. Tech Global Institute | Disha Verma | Labor in the Shadows: Rights and risks for Asia’s data workers

News

1. Paris Peace Forum | RAISE SEA, Responsible AI Scenario Exploration for Southeast Asia

2. Drop Site News | Google’s $45 Million Contract With Netanyahu's Office to Spread Israeli Propaganda

3. CNN | Why doesn’t Google Maps work in one of Asia’s most developed, tourist-friendly countries?

4. Construction.digital | Bangkok emerges as SE Asia’s new data centre powerhouse

5. The Guardian | Use of AI could worsen racism and sexism in Australia, human rights commissioner warns

6. The Guardian | Revealed: the huge growth of Myanmar scam centres that may hold 100,000 trafficked people

7. Times of India: Job aspirants from Andhra Pradesh continue to fall victims to Southeast Asia scam centers

8. The Vietnamese | Southeast Asia’s reliance on Chinese technology: Opportunities and risks in the digital transformation era (original version: Sự lệ thuộc của Đông Nam Á vào công nghệ Trung Quốc)

Reports

1. Tech Global Institute | Labor in the Shadows: Rights and Risks for Asia’s Data Workers (full report)

2. Amnesty International | Breaking up with Big Tech: A human rights-based argument for tackling Big Tech’s market power

3. AI Safety Asia / Brookings | AI safety governance, the Southeast Asian way

4. Forum on Information and Democracy | A Digital Tax to Support Quality Journalism: Applying the polluter pays principle to Big Tech platforms

5. ICJ: ASEAN: ICJ and human rights defenders from Southeast Asia urge a Rights-based approach to countering harmful online content

6. FiscalNote | APAC Tech Policy 2025 and the drive for AI leadership and regional resilience

7. National Bureau of Asian Research (US) | Charting ASEAN’s path to AI governance: Uneven yet gaining ground

Government Announcements

1. China | 国务院关于深入实施“人工智能+”行动的意见 (Opinions of the State Council on Deepening the Implementation of the "Artificial Intelligence Plus" Action)

Company Announcements

1. IIX | Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and Industry Leaders Launch US$5-Billion Capital Mobilization Plan for Orange Capital Markets in Indonesia

Global Majority-Impacting News

1. Axios | Big Tech elite lavish praise on Trump at White House Dinner

2. The Guardian | ICE obtains access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack phones and encrypted apps

Podcasts

1. Straight Talk Southeast Asia | EP104, Protests in Indonesia with Dr. Rendy Pahrun Wadipalapaa

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. Forbes: Merdeka 2025: Malaysia’s Door to Hybrid Independence

2. Forbes: A ProSocial AI Index: Measuring What Matters For People And Planet

3. Tech Policy Press: A Safety by Design Governance Approach to Addressing AI-Facilitated Online Harms

4. Aeon: Authenticate Thyself: Data has created a new and paradoxical social order: the promise of emancipation is made possible by classifying everything

5. 972mag: ‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza

6. Manushya Foundation: Statement on Age Gating Laws

News

1. OHCHR: Indigenous sovereignty in the AI era

2. Jakarta Post: Five things to do know about Indonesia’s deadly unrest

3. Tempo: Indonesian Minister claims Tiktok voluntarily shuts down live feature during mass protests

4. Tempo: Indonesia Denies Asking TikTok to Block Live Broadcasts amid Widespread Protests

5. Tempo: Why TikTok's Live Feature Temporary Suspension is Considered Inappropriate

6. Reuters: Indonesia urges TikTok, Meta to act against harmful online content

7. Antara: Indonesian govt clarifies Meta, TikTok summons not about protests

8. GovInsider: Singapore government first in Asia to deploy agentic AI on Google’s air-gapped cloud

9. The Straits Times: Singapore to test autonomous AI agents for delivery of public services

10. MalayMail: Gobind: Malaysia in final stages of National AI Action Plan, to ensure transparency, privacy, and accountability

11. Free Malaysia Today: Over half of Asean jobs will be affected by AI, says non-profit body

12. Asia Times: China may turn South China Sea into AI‑triggered mine zone

13. The Defense Post: South Korea Bets on MakinaRocks to Drive Military AI

14. Asia Times: AI ready to upend centuries-old military command structures

15. The Guardian: Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say

Reports

1. AI Safety Asia and Brookings: AI safety governance, the Southeast Asian way (watch launch even here)

2. OHCHR Press Release: US sanctions on ICC officials undermine independence of tribunal and justice for victims: UN experts

3. United Nations: Terms of reference and modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance

4. International Association of Genocide Scholars: IAGS Resolution on the Situation in Gaza

Government Announcements

1. Digital Ministry Malaysia: YB Gobind Singh Deo Appoints friends Of Ministry (FOM) To Strengthen Digital Agenda

2. Digital Ministry Malaysia: Launch Of Malaysia's National Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP)

3. Ministry of Digital Economy and Society Thailand: DE Ministry Welcomes Delegation from China to Study suppression of technological crimes

4. Ministry of Digital Economy and Society Thailand: DE Ministry joins discussion on ways to prevent hate speech

Global Majority-Impacting News

1. The Intercept: Pentagon Document: US Wants to "Suppress Dissenting Arguments" using AI propaganda

2. US Department of Defense: DOD Official Says AI, Other Innovations Will Transform Future Warfighting

3. AI News: The US federal government secures a massive Google Gemini AI deal at $0.47 per agency

Hey everyone! Resources^ from the Rest of US posts highlight some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. I also include things that impact us and our communities. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom.

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. The Incompleteness of ethics, by Elad Uzan

2. How Digital Colonialism Threatens Kenya’s Silicon Savannah, by Ben Mkalama and Marine Ragnet

3. Data Colonialism in the Global South: Who Owns Asia’s Digital Future?, by Suhana Roy

4. Southeast Asia’s Quest for Digital Sovereignty, by Vishal Rana and Govand Khalid Azeez

News

1. The Kathmandu Post: Nepal rolls out ambitious AI policy

2. Bernama: ASEAN AI Safety network targets for adoption by leaders at ASEAN Summit in October

3. Rěst ǒf Wôrld: Big Tech’s “AI for good” spending increases in Africa. So does skepticism

4. The Korea Times: Over half of Korean workers use AI at work: BOK Survey

5. Zeteo: Israel’s Tech Boom & the Economy of Genocide

6. EngageMedia: Menembus Batas: Pemusatan Hak Asasi Manusia dalam Strategi AI Nasional Menyongsong

Reports

1. ASEAN Business Advisor Council: Future-Ready Together: ASEAN’s Strategy for Inclusive and Digital Growth (*private sector funded news release)

2. PBS: Study says ChatGPT giving teens dangerous advice on drugs, alcohol and suicide

3. University of Essex and UN OHCHR: Digital Border Governance: A Human Rights Based Approach (2023)

4. Quantum Magazine: The AI Was Fed Sloppy Code. It Turned Into Something Evil.

Government Announcements

1. Bank of Korea: [제2025-22호] AI의 빠른 확산과 생산성 효과: 가계조사를 바탕으로 [No. 2025-22] Rapid Diffusion of AI and its Productivity Effects: BAsed on a Household Survey

Global Majority-Impacting News

1. The Guardian: How the US army is using influencers to recruit a new generation: ‘Promise them this idea of stability’

2. Reuters: Meta’s flirty AI chatbot invited a retiree to New York; He never made it home

3. The Guardian: Interview with Nick Clegg

4. The New York Times: The Militarization of Silicon Valley

5. BBC News: YouTube secretly used AI to edit people’s videos. The results could bend reality

Opportunities

7amleh Fellowship Program (“Exposing Digital Domination and AI Weaponisation on Palestinians and its Global Impact”): Deadline 31 August 2025

Hey everyone! My first Resources^ from the Rest of US post. I’m gonna highlight here some of the things I’m reading — including expert opinions from folks in my region, investigations and reports. When I come across research or fellowship opportunities, I’ll tag those at the bottom. (Today’s there one from 7amleh.)

Investigations / Expert Op-Eds

1. The Institutional Cooptation of Decolonisation, Dr. Jean Linis-Dinco, Manushya Foundation

2. The value of seeing from another’s perspective, Sandy Clark, in The Star

3. Did we just sell our privacy to the US?, Hanif Halim, in the Jakarta Post

4. Governance Autopsy: Microsoft & Unit 8200 - Part 1, Asma Derja

5. Artificial Intelligence and the Orchestration of Palestinian Life and Death, Sarah Fathallah

News

6. Bangkok Post: B25 billion approved for AI development

7. New Straits Times: AI roadmap focuses on ethics, innovation and equitable growth - NAIO

8. The Star: Nation eyes AI powerhouse status

9. Vietnam Plus: Malaysia launches initiatives at ASEAN AI Summit

10. The Korea Times: Govt holds strategy meeting for successful hosting of APEC biz events

11. Straits Times: Singapore tops AI readiness among 109 countries; more adults picking up Gen AI skills

Reports

12. AI Sentiment Analysis: Trust, Ethics, and Equitable AI Adoption in Thailand, White Paper, by Vero Advocacy and YouGov

13. Youthquake: Youth-led Movements Shaking Up East and Southeast Asia, by Human Rights Foundation (also pdf version)

Government Announcements

14. Draf Buku Putih Peta Jalan AI and Draf Pedoman Etika AI (Draft National AI Roadmap White Paper), Ministry of Communications and Digital of the Republic of Indonesia

Global Majority-Impacting News from the North

14. Pink News: Meta appoints notorious anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Robby Starbuck as AI bias advisor

15. Reuters: Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info

16. The Guardian: ‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians

17. MSN: OpenAI’s shift from non-profit to for-profit: Why it’s controversial and what it could mean

18. Yahoo!news: OpenAI CEO sparks controversy after refusing to disclose information about its latest AI model: ‘It’s more critical than ever to address’

Opportunities

• 7amleh Fellowship Program (“Exposing Digital Domination and AI Weaponisation on Palestinians and its Global Impact”): Deadline 31 August 2025