In this episode, Afifah Fitriyani Oceanto, a student from Jentera Law School, sits down with Shoeb Abdullah and Subinoy Mustofi Eron, co-founders of Activate Rights, to discuss the mass protests in Bangladesh calling for reform of the government’s job quota system. Initially sparked by students, the movement quickly spread nationwide, drawing in ci…

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Tanka Aryal, President of Digital Rights Nepal, (DRN) shares insights into the organization's inception during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing emerging digital rights issues in the country. The organization, comprising lawyers, social workers, social scientists, and technologists, engages in policy review,…

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Journalist Monira Munni shares insights into her experiences as a senior reporter at The Financial Express, the only business daily in Bangladesh, focusing on trade, economics, and business issues. Monira delves into the challenges she faces as a journalist during fieldwork, emphasizing the importance of dat…

In this PGP Live episode at DRAPAC23, Ivan, Programs and Operations Director at Security Matters, discusses their mission to promote digital security in Southeast Asia, focusing on Thailand and Malaysia. Ivan covers their role as a first responder, research center, and provider of localized training materials and threat analysis. --- Pretty Good Po…

In this episode, Ranking Digital Rights' Global Partnerships Manager, Leandro Ucciferri, discusses their collaboration with EngageMedia on the Greater Internet Freedom project, emphasizing their commitment to sharing a methodology rooted in international standards while actively seeking ways to apply it to local contexts. --- Pretty Good Podcast Li…

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Jonnah Morado, legal officer and project coordinator at the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services or IDEALS, sheds light on their work providing legal assistance to human rights CSOs and digital rights advocates in the Philippines. Navigating the intersection of digital …

In this episode, Kristine Tan Chan, President of Filipino Freethinkers, discusses their advocacy for human rights, emphasizing freedom of expression, women's and LGBTQIA+ rights, and digital rights. As a member of the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network, Kristine addresses the stigma around abortion, advocating for decriminalization. --- Pret…

In this episode, Pyrou Chung, Director of Open Development Initiative at East-West Management Institute, shares their work in strengthening data governance with indigenous communities. The conversation underscores the substantial contributions of these communities, especially women, to discussions on climate change and environmental issues. --- Pre…

In this episode SzuHui Huang, Programme Manager at Open Culture Foundation, explores the intersection of open technology and digital rights in Asia, emphasizing capacity building and research within civil society organizations, while addressing resource challenges in the digital era and touching on OCF's research in East Asia on privacy and persona…

In this PGP Live episode at DRAPAC23, Sinar Project's Kelly Koh and Siti Nurliza Samsudin explore the Internet Monitoring Action Project (iMAP). Learn about iMAP's goal to uncover censorship across 10 countries on platforms like websites, messaging apps, and virtual private networks. Gain insights into their efforts to build a digital rights activi…

In this episode, Shruti Trikanad from the Centre for Internet & Society shares about the Greater Internet Freedom project, sharing insights on global digital rights policies, digital IDs, and strategies learned from early implementers. --- Pretty Good Podcast Live at DRAPAC23 is a special episode series of Pretty Good Podcast, recorded live at the …

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Global Voices Advox Editor Ameya Nagarajan shares about the rise of digital authoritarianism and other digital rights trends in the Asia-Pacific monitored through the Advox and Unfreedom Monitor project. Ameya shares how governments are using laws to curb digital rights and impede press freedom. She also tal…

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Numun Fund’s Information and Knowledge Systems Choreographer Syar S. Alia delves into the organisation's exploration of feminist tech and prioritising equitable, accessible, and safe technology for all. Syar also discusses highlights from the organisation’s research uncovering shared concerns in the global s…

In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Bradley (pseudonym), a social technology researcher, discusses the alternative communication methods used in Myanmar in response to the internet shutdowns and destroyed infrastructure following the February 2021 coup. Zeroing in on digital safety and security, Bradley highlights the challenges faced by the p…

Pretty Good Podcast Live at DRAPAC23 is a special episode series of ⁠Pretty Good Podcast⁠, recorded live at the Digital Rights Asia Pacific Assembly in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last May 22 to 26, 2023. In this episode of PGP Live at DRAPAC23, Athan - Freedom of Expression Activist Organization Director Zee Pe shares how her youth-led group is counteri…

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, Htaike Htaike Aung discussed about the updates on digital rights issues in Myanmar, and how the international community can support digital rights advocates in fighting the digital coup and human rights violations happening in the country.

In the final 2022 episode of Pretty Good Podcast, EngageMedia Executive Director Phet Sayo shares his take on the current issues surrounding Big Tech globally and how these affect the challenges of disinformation and freedom of expression in the Asia-Pacific. Phet also discusses his vision for the future of digital rights, which centres on building…

Lecturer Dr. Samsul Maarif and Project Multatuli membership manager Devina Heriyanto return to expound further on the various ways mainstream media and other stakeholders can collaborate to challenge myths surrounding indigenous communities,reclaim development projects, and bridge the gap between indigenous communities and academics, activists, gov…

In this two-part series, Pretty Good Podcast tackles how and why these mainstream narratives perpetuate discrimination against marginalised religious communities, and what can be done to address the issue. Dr. Samsul Maarif, head of the graduate school program at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Center for Religion and Cross-cultural Studies, expounds on …

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, Imam Ardhianto, lecturer and chair of the University of Indonesia’s Media, Culture, and Research Center for Anthropological Studies, discusses the transformation of religious social media movements in Indonesia and how they shaped the socio-political landscape of the country, adapting into hyperlocal spaces o…

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, two South Asian contributors of EngageMedia’s Pandemic of Control series elaborate on how the digital technologies used for pandemic management have infringed on human and digital rights. Harindrini Corea, legal consultant of Hashtag Generation, shares more about the criminalisation of people’s movements and …

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, Asia-Pacific analyst and Access Now’s Myanmar lead Wai Phyo Myint elaborates on how these developments are affecting the efforts of Myanmar’s resilient digital rights actors, individuals, and organisations to restore democracy in the country. She also shares concrete ways that the international community can …

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, research consultant Dr Diani Citra and EngageMedia Digital Rights Program Officer for Indonesia Pradipa Rasidi share key insights from the report “The Techno-politics of Data Justice in Indonesia and the Philippines”. They discuss how civil society, technology groups, and affected communities in both countrie…

In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, author, filmmaker, and activist Noor Huda Ismail discusses the strategic online dissemination of extremist ideology in Southeast Asia. He zeroes in on how social media algorithms influence online radicalisation, and how using the same technology can help targeted individuals reintegrate back into society.…

Southeast Asia has historically been consumers of technology instead of providers. This often leaves the region at a disadvantage in adapting to and governing the technologies that it needs for growth, such as artificial intelligence (AI). In this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, AI researcher Dr. Jun-E Tan expounds on her 2021 research with EngageM…

Pretty Good Podcast returns in 2022 with the second part of our series on freedom of religion and expression online in Indonesia. In this episode, accomplished Indonesian journalist and writer Feby Indirani shares her experience in advocating for such freedoms in the online space, from continued discussions on her books promoting religious toleranc…

Pretty Good Podcast caps off its second season with a special two-part series on complexities of freedom of religion and expression online in Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim majority and where minorities have historically been the subject of discrimination and hate speech. Our first episode, with academic Leonard Epafras of the Indone…

With Big Tech monopolies owning many of the online services we regularly use, is there still a space (and an audience) for open source platforms and content outside this mostly proprietary ecosystem? EngageMedia is up for the challenge with the launch of Cinemata, a platform for social and environmental films about the Asia-Pacific. In this podcast…

In early 2021, the Australian government enacted the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, which requires Facebook and Google to pay Australian media for their news content. On the one hand, the law can be seen as a triumph for journalism, an industry that for so long has bemoaned the loss of content and advertising revenue to…

EngageMedia sits down with Mong Palatino, Southeast Asia and Oceania editor of the community media website Global Voices, to talk about the threats to freedom of expression on the internet. Most importantly, we ask Mong: Is the internet still a safe space for us to freely express ourselves?

Almost two months since the Myanmar military staged a coup that overthrew the country’s newly elected government, pro-democracy activists and civil society in the country continue to stage daily demonstrations. But beyond sharing the relevant hashtags on social media, what concrete actions can the regional and international communities do to suppor…

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred on existing debates and developments on users’ privacy, government surveillance, and data monetisation. But what do all these mean for the Asia-Pacific? EngageMedia chats with Mishi Choudhary, founder of SFLC.in, on how recent events are affecting the region, and how we can boost our voices and influence the tech space…

There have been many reports on what is happening in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup, but more than ever we need to listen to stories from the ground, as told by the people of Myanmar. On this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, EngageMedia interviews filmmaker Stephen Minus (also known as Thet Oo Maung) on his experience documenting the prote…

Following the recently concluded elections in Myanmar, EngageMedia sits down with Maung Zarni, Burmese scholar and co-founder of Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia (FORSEA), to discuss how the poll results tie into the bigger digital rights challenges that the country is facing today.

How can we ensure that marginalised communities in the region are safe to share their stories online? Bishakha Datta, Executive Director of Point of View, elaborates on how the challenges these groups face on the internet are parallel to the obstacles encountered offline, as well as how allies in solidarity can protect and amplify these stories in …

Piyanut Kotsan, Director of Amnesty International Thailand, enumerates the human and digital rights issues and violations occurring during the recent youth-led protests in Thailand, from the disproportionate use of laws against dissenting opinions and the increase in online harassment against young protesters.…

Shita Laksmi, executive director of Tifa Foundation, chats with EngageMedia about internet intermediary liability, particularly in regards to disinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of the state in regulating content. We also ask: How can internet intermediaries balance people's freedom of expression with their right to be protected fr…

On this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, we chat with Simon Harman and Sam de Silva from the Loki Foundation, makers of private messaging app Session, on the benefits of and challenges to using secure tools for communications. We also discuss ways to raise awareness on the importance of privacy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific where access to digit…

ARTICLE19 digital programme officer Vidushi Marda dissects the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region's response to COVID-19 and what the new applications of this technology mean for digital rights after the pandemic.

The second episode of Pretty Good Podcast delves deeper into the Philippine court cyber libel ruling against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr. of Rappler, a Philippine news organisation known to be critical of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte. We ask John Nery, a columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and co-founder of the Con…

On the pilot episode of Pretty Good Podcast: Discussions on Digital Rights, EngageMedia chats with the Association for Progressive Communications executive director, Chat Garcia Ramilo, on the past, present, and future of digital rights in Asia-Pacific region. The pilot also tackles how the COVID-19 pandemic relates to digital rights and the import…