Checking Myths and Facts: COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps
As tracing apps have become a hype in many countries, governments have been urging people to use them. However, due to privacy concerns, the rate of adoption is still low.…
Should We be Worried about a Tracing App during the COVID-19?
The situation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted many states as well as non-state actors to launch—or consider launching— a contact tracing application (app). While a large number of…
TraceTogether: Not Easy to Verify the State’s Privacy Claims
Update as of May 7, 2020: Some of the content in this article is outdated. The 'reference implementation' of the BlueTrace protocol called OpenTrace has been open-source. The advocacy aspects…
Privacy-Focused Browser: A Missing Piece in the Digital Life of Southeast Asians
We cannot browse a website without an internet browser, making it an integral part of our lives in the digital age. Whether we are looking for a flight ticket for…
Freedom of Expression versus Disinformation: Don’t Allow the Latter to Happen in the Name of the First
Mark Zuckerberg’s latest stance refusing to fact-check political ads on Facebook has drawn significant criticism, even his own employees. He said that his decision is to support freedom of expression…
Lessons Learned from Data Breach in Southeast Asia: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?
In 2019, two major data breach incidents happened at the regional level. One was Sephora, a well-known cosmetics retailer that has branches all over the world. The other was Lion…
Flawed Step Forward: SIM Card Registration in the Deep South of #Thailand
What if you are told to give up your personal data otherwise you will not be able to use your phone to communicate? This is happening in the three southernmost…
Private Browsing Mode: Is It Really Private?
Have you ever felt like you want more privacy when you search online and visit certain websites? You probably realize that you can use the private browsing mode that is…
Understanding Data Consent – How Much Do We Know About It?
Ever experienced getting a phone call from a stranger trying to sell you something? What if you decided to apply for a frequent flyer program of one airline and one…
What is the (Real) Point of an Internet Shutdown?
On August 21, 2019, Indonesia ordered internet services to be temporarily blocked in Papua before partially lifting it on September 5, 2019. This incident followed similar internet shutdowns in Rakhine…