Southeast Asia is a region witnessing a remarkable pace of digital adoption. As a region it is expected to become an innovation powerhouse in the coming years. However, as is the case with any other region experiencing a similar fast digital uptake, this has increased vulnerabilities to cybercrime.
This project aims to contribute to strengthened national and regional cybercrime infrastructure that is better prepared to mitigate and respond to cybercrime in an effective, coordinated, and inclusive way, thus reducing the risks posed to states and citizens, especially women and minority groups.
By conducting research on strategic approaches to cybercrime, and organising regional simulation exercises, this project aims to build cyber resilience by strengthening coordination and cooperation against cybercrime, at both the national and regional levels.
Project activities will be centred around two distinct yet complementary workstreams: cybercrime capacity-building within ASEAN countries, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in cybercrime capacity-building.
The approach to implementing both work streams is based on a combination of in-depth research and consultations tested at the capacity-building phase.
Cybercrime capacity-building:
This workstream has two key phases, a research phase and a capacity-building phase. The research phase will look at strategic approaches to cybercrime responses, building on existing frameworks and considering a number of countries as valuable case studies.
This phase will aim to identify gaps and generate concrete recommendations for strengthening cybercrime responses, to be subsequently tested in the capacity-building phase through the development and implementation of simulation exercises in the ASEAN region.
The key activities under this stream include, but are not limited to: a research paper on strategic approaches to cybercrime responses, a regional conference, and a series of simulation exercises.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in cybercrime:
This workstream will produce a toolkit providing guidance on integrating gender and inclusion into cybercrime capacity-building projects.
Through these activities, the project aims to:
- Strengthen the development of effective and inclusive strategic approaches to fighting cybercrime in ASEAN countries;
- Strengthen national and regional coordination and cooperation in developing cybercrime strategies and policies in ASEAN countries;
- Increase engagement with and inclusion of key principles for mainstreaming gender and inclusion into cybercrime capacity building efforts.
This project is funded by Global Affairs Canada.