ASEAN Calls for Regional Big Tech Accountability Framework Following US Settlement

“For too long, countries like the Philippines have been dealing with the world’s biggest technology companies individually,” said Jocel de Guzman, co-founder of the group, in a statement.

Because an individual nation state’s enforcement reach was limited, cooperation on removing scam ads, fake accounts and harmful content often came down to “the willingness of the platform”, he added, further calling for an Asean Big Tech accountability framework to be introduced.

Analysts who spoke to This Week in Asia said the US settlement strengthened the case for Southeast Asian governments to demand comparable safeguards, though they cautioned it was not a template the region could simply copy wholesale.