Int’l economist: Digital surveillance abuse is gov’t’s responsibility, ASEAN only secondary

International economist Dr. Jayant Menon highlighted the responsibility of national governments in addressing the potential misuse of digital platforms for surveillance in an exclusive interview with Explained PH Cebu during the 48th ASEAN Summit.

Menon, senior fellow at the ISEAS Yushof Ishak Institute and former lead economist at Asian Development Bank, was asked about safeguards under ASEAN’s digital master plan amid reports that digital tools in countries such as Thailand and the Philippines have been used to monitor activists and spread state-backed narratives.

Menon admitted he was not fully familiar with the specific provisions of the plan, but stressed that responsibility largely rests with national governments rather than regional bodies like ASEAN. 

“I think a lot of the focus should be on national governments, right? And what they actually implement within their borders and policies, laws and regulations,” he said.

He also pointed to the limitations of regional enforcement mechanisms.

“It’s quite difficult to actually enforce cross-borders rules in this area… ASEAN doesn’t have an ASEAN court, for instance,” he added.

Menon concluded that while regional cooperation may provide support, it remains secondary to national action in addressing abuses linked to digital technologies.

“The burden would lie on national governments and national jurisdictions… a regional digital framework will only play a secondary, complementary role,” he said.

In the Philippines, the rapid expansion of digital governance and surveillance-linked technologies has raised concerns over data privacy protection and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, prompting renewed calls for stronger domestic safeguard and oversight.