South-east Asia digital controls hit connectivity plan

Significance

It seeks to accelerate recovery from COVID-19 by capitalising on the rise in internet use and digital trade during the pandemic. However, new restrictive laws on internet use in several countries run counter to these regional digital integration goals.

Impacts

• Beijing will give technical and political support to countries such as Cambodia seeking to replicate the Great Firewall on a smaller scale.
• Authoritarian regimes will use internet controls to advance their commercial interests.
• Western donor funding for digital projects could be halted.