Background

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Asia’s digital transformation continues to accelerate at an unprecedented pace, as evidenced by the growing popularity of digital and social media platforms and increased investments into digital public infrastructure (i.e. national digital IDs) being advanced by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) like Asian Development Bank and World Bank. The surge in state engagement with technology platforms and development of national and regional strategies also reflects the region’s growing commitment to, and reliance on, digital transformation.

 

In key South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, digital platforms and digital infrastructure investments have brought opportunities, but also significant human and environmental risks and impacts, especially for local communities, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and marginalized communities, such as:

 

• Lack of transparent and meaningful consultation with local communities in the design and implementation of digital investment projects, violating the internationally-recognized principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).

• Lack of platform transparency and accountability due to weak laws, content moderation policies and enforcement leading to real-world harms, such as gender-based violence (GBV), religious persecution, political silencing, and digital threats and attacks, among others. 

• Land grabbing, forced evictions, mass displacement, and environmental destruction, which impact the lives, livelihoods, and culture of rights-holders. 

• Digital investments which may supplant necessary investments into essential, non-digital public services.

 

If these issues are inadequately addressed, there is a real risk that Asia’s digital transformation will lead to even more shrinking civic space. The lack of robust platform accountability mechanisms is especially concerning. While global norms for responsible business conduct are evolving, most platforms operating in Asia remain largely unregulated in how they collect, process and monetize data, moderate content, or respond to state demands. Without enforceable transparency and due diligence requirements, platforms can perpetuate rights violations and evade meaningful oversight.

 

Through a multi-stakeholder panel discussion and an interactive Q&A, this session will highlight the human and environmental costs of Asia’s digital transformation and pathways for different actors—governments, platforms, MDBs/financiers, communities, and civil society— to advance rights-based approaches, strengthen accountability, and expand civic space in the region.

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Key Objectives

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• Amplify regional awareness on key human and environmental risks and impacts of Asia’s digital transformation agenda through sub-regional case studies.

• Build regional solidarity and momentum regarding the urgency of holding digital and social media platforms, governments, MDBs/financiers, and other actors accountable for addressing the costs of Asia’s digital transformation.

• Facilitate a multi-stakeholder discussion on regional collaborative strategies and national and regional policy frameworks, including business and human rights standards, platform governance, and financial sector due diligence that can address the risks and impacts of Asia’s digital transformation.

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Guiding Questions

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• What are some of the most urgent challenges, rights violations, and human and environmental impacts associated with Asia’s digital transformation?

• How can platform accountability frameworks covering transparency, algorithmic governance, data protection, and remedy be developed and enforced in ways that are contextually appropriate for Asia’s diverse political and cultural environments?

• What strategies, tools, and pathways can be adopted to ensure meaningful participation of local communities, Indigenous Peoples, HRDs, and other marginalized groups in Asia’s digital transformation agenda, and to advance a rights-based approach?

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Session Partners