Are you an early career scholar? Do you want to be part of the next season of our workshop series and get feedback from experts in the field? Apply by May 31 here: forms.gle/5SSuuybK3739... For more information visit: apsg.work/seminar-rules/

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Fall 2026 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

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Looking forward to sharing some preliminary reflections on conducting digital authoritarianism research in Southeast Asia at #ISA2026! It's very nice to be back in Columbus after AAS 2025 😁

If you are an advanced PhD student or PostDoc working on AI and global politics/tech/authoritarianism come spend 1-6 months in Berlin this year with @scripts-berlin.eu! We have some funding for you and will help w/ visa and other moving issues. Info here: www.scripts-berlin.eu/about-us/job...

Political protest slop has become the new “Shrimp Jesus”: first religion, now politics. In the vibocracy, emotions are exploited to make a living under capitalist realism. files.maldita.es/maldita/uplo...

Delighted to see my article on the #Myanmar military junta's foreign relations since the 2021 military coup is now available for download with Asian Politics & Policy. Massive thanks to @markscogan.bsky.social for the invitation to join this special issue: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Our Call for Papers for the Spring 2026 is now open! Submit your proposal by November 9th using this link: forms.gle/SvZv98ke4QUT... For more information visit: apsg.work/cfp/

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Spring 2026 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

forms.gle

Come be my colleague! I’ve just started at NIU but really enjoy being part of this supportive community. The Department of Philosophy and Center for Southeast Asian Studies invite applications for a joint tenure-track position in Buddhist Studies. employment.niu.edu/postings/86698

After a sweeping social media ban, Nepal saw its bloodiest unrest in decades. What has happened in Nepal is a warning to other democracies to tread carefully with efforts to contain online expression, writes Samik Kharel.

Lessons from Nepal on the High Cost of Controlling Online Expression | TechPolicy.Press

The Nepalese government attempted to control the information ecosystem and lost control of the state itself, writes Samik Kharel.

bit.ly

This resonates well beyond media & communication studies

Media, Culture & Society Journal@mcsjournal.bsky.social · last yr.

What does #decolonization really mean in media studies? Tanja Bosch insists it must be rooted in anti-capitalist praxis and citation politics, challenging extractive academic hierarchies and advocating for insurgent, relational scholarship. #OnlineFirst journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

TikTok in Myanmar isn’t just entertainment. It’s a frontline in the information war — exploited by the military & nationalists to spread propaganda, incite violence, and profit from harmful content. #Myanmar #TikTok #DigitalRights Full report: www.myanmarinternet.info/post/weaponi...

Teaching Data Science? Frame the course in the context of data pipelines! This gives structure to the big picture, allows for a natural scaffolding, and supports a critical look at common pitfalls along the pipeline.

8/ We hope this piece resonates and highlights ongoing efforts to shift knowledge politics in Myanmar, as part of longer struggles over centre-periphery relations. Read it here: 👉 teacirclemyanmar.com/education/pr... #Myanmar #WhatsHappeninginMyanmar

Producing knowledge in/of/for Myanmar’s borderlands - Tea Circle

The authors reflect on the politics of producing borderland knowledge in Myanmar after the coup.

teacirclemyanmar.com

YouTube's API search function is "not adequate for robust academic research, especially concerning Digital Services Act requirements". Clear and problematic conclusions by @riederb.bsky.social Adrian Padilla & Oscar Coromina #commsky #DSA #dataacess #youtube arxiv.org/abs/2506.11727

Forgetful by Design? A Critical Audit of YouTube's Search API for Academic Research

This paper critically audits the search endpoint of YouTube's Data API (v3), a common tool for academic research. Through systematic weekly searches over six months using eleven queries, we identify m...

arxiv.org

As part of a @techpolicypress.bsky.social series, I reflect on lessons in resisting Big Tech power from the Global South, based on comparative research of Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. Your weekend read: www.techpolicy.press/lessons-from...

Lessons from Resisting Big Tech Power in Southeast Asia | TechPolicy.Press

It is more important than ever for Western donors to champion the inclusion of digital rights in their development aid agendas, writes Mai Van Tran.

techpolicy.press

Grateful for the opportunity to share our research on Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism in Southeast Asia and connect with regional experts at the Indo-Pacific Roundtable 2025! www.brussels-school.be/output/news/...

CD2I Researcher Mai Van Tran contributes to discussion on Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism at the Indo-Pacific Roundtable 2025

CD2I Researcher Mai Van Tran contributes to discussion on Big Tech-mediated authoritarianism at the Indo-Pacific Roundtable 2025

brussels-school.be

📣 New open-access publication As authoritarian actors have increasingly turned to Big Tech platforms to repress dissidents, pro-democracy activism has experienced notable changes. Our latest research examines an under-analysed yet important phenomenon of pro-democracy platform advocacy 🧵1/6

Now you can directly download our guides via our Telegram chatbot! Check it out: t.me/DigidefBot 🤳 I also shared more about what motivated this project here: www.brussels-school.be/output/news/...

digidef.info

This chatbot suggests solutions for digital harassment problems. Contact us: mai.van.tran@vub.be

t.me

Mai Van Tran@vmtran.bsky.social · last yr.

📣 DIGITAL DEFENCE RESOURCES As part of the EU-funded “Pro-democracy platform advocacy" project, our resources suggest solutions for specific harassment problems, based on our academic research. The resources are available in English, Burmese, Khmer and Thai. Check them out: www.digidef.info 1/2

📣 DIGITAL DEFENCE RESOURCES As part of the EU-funded “Pro-democracy platform advocacy" project, our resources suggest solutions for specific harassment problems, based on our academic research. The resources are available in English, Burmese, Khmer and Thai. Check them out: www.digidef.info 1/2

DIGITAL DEFENCE RESOURCES

Explore solutions for digital harassment issues, based on academic research of Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

digidef.info

Join me next Wednesday (7 May), where I'll share my team's latest research on how major digital platforms’ negligence and incompetence in algorithmic content governance as well as their performative accountability might facilitate authoritarian repression. www.lse.ac.uk/seac/events/...

The Call for Papers for our Fall 2025 Workshop series is now OPEN! Polisky Dictatorsky To apply complete this form by May 31st: forms.gle/SvZv98ke4QUT... You can find more information here on the CfP: apsg.work/cfp/

Apply to Present Your Work!

Complete the form to be considered for the Authoritarian Political Systems Group Fall 2025 Season. Read the Seminar Rules before applying.

forms.gle

Hope to have you join our discussion tomorrow! #TransnationalAdvocacy #PlatformGovernance #SEA

Mai Van Tran@vmtran.bsky.social · last yr.

Join us on March 26 in this #DRAPACSeries at @engagemedia.org as we discuss the research on pro-democracy platform advocacy, exploring the extent to which such advocacy might affect Big Tech’s practices and curb platform-mediated repression in the Global South. engagemedia.org/events/drapa...

Want to specialise in EU digital policy? 💻📊 The Brussels School of Governance (VUB) offers a Data and Digitalisation track in its Advanced Master on European Governance (EuroMaster) – an evening programme for students and professionals. Explore AI, data governance and digital markets in the EU:

🚨 NEW REPORT – Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First 🚨 As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives. bit.ly/3QzxVzq

Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute

bit.ly

www.npr.org/2025/03/09/n...

More than 1,300 Syrians killed in 72 hours amid clashes and acts of revenge

A human rights group characterized the killings as executions and massacres, carried out in revenge against the Alawite community, which made up Assad's longtime base of support.

npr.org

Join us on March 26 in this #DRAPACSeries at @engagemedia.org as we discuss the research on pro-democracy platform advocacy, exploring the extent to which such advocacy might affect Big Tech’s practices and curb platform-mediated repression in the Global South. engagemedia.org/events/drapa...

Hong Kong has been doing a deepdive into authoritarianism for 5 years now. What's happening in the US feels similar. A lot I want to share, but here's a start: By @ramshajahangir.bsky.social with @nighatdad.bsky.social @camerana.bsky.social @mishi.bsky.social www.techpolicy.press/what-happens...

What Happens When Democracy Falters? Lessons from The Global Majority | TechPolicy.Press

A confluence of troubling trends is reshaping the landscape of global human rights and democratic governance in the Global Majority, writes Ramsha Jahangir.

techpolicy.press

Such eventful few days at #RightsCon where I got to present, (re)connect with and learn from global digital rights experts! 1/2

Among other pressing issues re: tech-facilitated GBV, a panelist emphasized how access to entertainment should be considered a right! especially for people facing violence on a frequent basis #RightsCon2025

Strong start to #RightsCon 2025 in Taipei: The panel on "Platform accountability in crisis?" raises concerns on growing collab between Big Tech & authoritarian leaders in many parts of the Global South & North and highlights the need to look into potential responses... 1/2

DSA Human Rights Alliance

The DSA HR AllianceThe European Union’s regulations and policy-making decisions on technology and the internet have unique influence across the globe. But with great influence comes great responsibili...

eff.org

Job post: EFEO Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025-2026 Research projects must focus on the humanities and social sciences, in connection with the civilizations of Indianized or Sinicized Asian countries. www.efeo.fr/base.php?cod...