Some concerns on laws and regulations about information and expression in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Presented during Mekong ICT Camp 2015 discussion on how information laws could affect ICT for Development projects, like community wifi and data journalism. June 2015

1. Information Laws
in Mekong Countries
Mekong ICT Camp 2015
@bact
Arthit Suriyawongkul
Foundation for Internet and Civic Culture

2. Influences to Public Policy
Market
TechnologyLaw
Norms
?

3. Do laws affects these
initiatives?
Open Data
Social Media
Wireless Network

4. Which laws affects these
initiatives?
Open Data
Freedom of Information Law, State Secrets Law, Budget
Law, Copyright Law
Social Media
Cybercrime Law, Defamation Law, Blasphemy Law
Wireless Network
Radio Frequency Regulations, Cybersecurity Law

5. Think about information flow
Data Protection & Network Security
Freedom of
Information
State
Secrets
National Security
Copyright
Budget Press Freedom
Intermediary Liability
Defamation
Radio
Spectrum
& Infras
Archive

6. Information Laws / Policies
Freedom of Information
Privacy / Data Protection
Cybercrime (Traditional)
Cybercrime (New)
Cybersecurity
Copyright
Encryption
SIM card registration
Radio frequency
allocation and
licensing
Intermediary liability
Lawful interception

7. Data Protection
Key is “Consent”
Collection
Use / Process
Publication / Share

8. Intermediary Liability
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Or to shoot?

9. WIFI (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
Source:
- List of WLAN channels
- en.wikipedia.org
- “Designing a Dual-Band Wireless Network”
- metageek.com

10. Frequency Allocation
Source: “Digital dividend scheme switched” - BBC News

11. FOI in Mekong Countries
Cambodia - “Access to Information Bill” (drafting since 2007)
1995 Law on the Press and 2005 Archives Law have some provisions on right
to information, not in effect in practice. [Cambodian Center for Human Rights]
Laos - HELP ME
Myanmar
1923 State Official Secrets Act, 1923 Evidence Act, and 2014 Electronic
Transactions Act restrict access to information. [Open Myanmar Initiative]
Thailand - 1997 Official Information Act
Vietnam - “Access to Information Bill” (since 2009) Ministry of Justice [Article 19]

12. Regional Influences
APEC (APEC Privacy Framework)
ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2011-2015 -> 2016-2020
ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
Trans-Pacific Partnership (on copyright, privacy, cross-
border data transfer)
EU Data Protection Directive

13. Know the rules to protect yourself and
your community, but not let them limit
your imagination.

14. http://mekongict.org