The Asia Pacific is the most dynamic digital landscape in the world, home to the fastest adopters of new technologies and the largest concentration of mobile and social media users. An escalation in online activism, changing cyber dynamics, developments in digital diplomacy and the exploitation of big data are shaping the region's engagement with the world.
- In order to counter North Korean cyber attacks, South Korea's government is attempting to recruit the country's best young programmers by offering full university scholarships in cyber-defence in return for seven years of military service.
- 'Liking' the wrong picture on Facebook can get you 32 years of of prison in Thailand.
- ISIS has extended its recruitment efforts into China with this digital recording of a Mandarin Chinese-language song glorifying jihad. China's strict internet censorship means the song is unlikely to travel far.
- Myanmar's rapid leapfrogging from no telephony to widespread use of VoIP apps (like Viber) and Facebook messenger is discussed in this podcast.
- Indonesia is fast becoming a destination for tech entrepreneurs and investors. So what did Indonesia's tech ministry do this year to facilitate this investment? (Hint: not much.)
- Through leveraging big data from internet company Baidu, researchers have found and geo-located some of China's ghost cities (definition: more buildings than people) but are keeping most of them a secret.
- A Taiwanese smartscooter company has that Internet of Things thing down pat and is expanding into Europe.
- Can the growing interest and excitement in the Australian tech and startup scene rub off on Southeast Asia?
- The Chinese Government is escalating electronic surveillance in Xinjiang by shutting down the mobile services of residents who have downloaded foreign messenger apps (i.e. WhatsApp and Telegram) and are using software to circumvent internet filters.