ASEAN to create subcommittee on platform accountability – CICC

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to a Philippine proposal to create a subcommittee or dialogue mechanism on platform accountability, strengthening regional cooperation in addressing online scams, harmful content and other digital threats.

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso disclosed the development following discussions involving the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and ASEAN coordinating committee representatives, where the Philippines pushed for a regional approach to holding major technology platforms accountable.

The development follows repeated calls from Scam Watch Pilipinas, which earlier urged the Philippine government to use its ASEAN chairmanship to establish a united regional front to hold Big Tech companies accountable for protecting consumers.

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Scam Watch Pilipinas calls on PH gov’t to build ASEAN Front for Big Tech accountability on harmful content

“So in the ASEC meeting earlier, where the ASEAN coordinating committee was there, we already had proposed and they agreed that there would be a subcommittee or a sub dialogue when it comes to platform accountability so we can address the issue, that particular issue, head on on a regional scale,” Paraiso said in an interview.

The proposed mechanism could help ASEAN governments coordinate policies and actions against online fraud, fraudulent advertisements, fake accounts and other digital risks.

Scam Watch Pilipinas’ call for regional action earlier gained international attention, including coverage by the South China Morning Post, which highlighted the push for ASEAN cooperation on Big Tech accountability.

Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-founder Jocel de Guzman welcomed the development, emphasizing that online threats transcend national borders and cannot be effectively addressed by individual governments alone.

“We welcome this development because platform accountability requires a long-term, coordinated solution, not a ban, ban, ban approach. ASEAN countries must work together to ensure that technology platforms take responsibility for protecting their users,” De Guzman said.

“We need stronger safeguards, clear accountability, and sustained cooperation rather than relying on platform restrictions every time an online safety issue arises,” De Guzman added.

The proposed subcommittee could pave the way for common regional standards, stronger cooperation with technology companies and more coordinated enforcement against digital threats.

For Scam Watch Pilipinas, the development marks progress toward its call for collective ASEAN action to protect nearly 700 million consumers from online threats.