High-level ASEAN forum co-organised with UNESCO and the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet
Digital platforms provide significant advantages to societies, playing a central role in societal, political, and economic development.
However, they also pose substantial societal risks, including threats to human rights, civic discourse, user safety, public health, the well-being of minors, the functioning of democratic processes, information integrity, and pluralism of the media. As a result, the governance of digital platforms has become a focus area of policy and civic debate and, due to the cross-border nature of digital services and markets, a central issue for international cooperation.
Despite progress in digital platform governance, regulatory frameworks worldwide remain fragmented. In some cases, they fall short of international human rights standards or negatively affect online plurality and freedom of expression. This further reinforces asymmetries between global platforms, national authorities, and local communities.
A common approach to digital platform governance, aligned with international human rights standards, is crucial to avoid regulatory fragmentation and ensure that:
a) platforms are transparent, accountable, and carry out due diligence in protecting fundamental rights;
b) online safety and information integrity are strengthened; and
c) users are empowered with greater agency and viable choices in how they interact with platforms.
In this context, the ASEAN Secretariat and UNESCO, in cooperation with Thailand and the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet, are co-organising the ASEAN Multistakeholder Forum on the Governance of Digital Platforms. The Forum will identify practical pathways toward human rights- and systems-based governance. It will offer a multistakeholder dialogue platform for regulatory authorities, policymakers, digital platforms, and civil society to exchange best practices on addressing online risks, including illegal and harmful content, with a focus on the needs and context of the ASEAN region.
The participation in the forum is by invitation only.