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Defending Digital Privacy in Southeast Asia Program

Program Description

The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) aspires to protect privacy in the digital age through the launch of a new Defending Digital Privacy in Southeast Asia program (DDP). In a world where the internet and technology are deeply ingrained in every aspect of people’s lives, it is important for societies to have laws that protect individuals’ digital privacy. Without such laws, freedoms of expression, thought, consciousness, belief, association, assembly, and the right to be free of discrimination can become encroached upon. Digital privacy laws serve as a safeguard for such freedoms through the provision of a space for individuals to freely develop their own voice and identity without fear of repercussion. To address this challenge, DDP will bring together lawyers and experts across Southeast Asia to expand their knowledge on the core values of digital privacy and explore approaches to protecting and promoting digital privacy in their jurisdictions. 

With the help of experts from across the world, ABA ROLI will develop a regional training program on digital privacy that will be launched in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The training program will include both virtual and in-person events that will provide a refined understanding of privacy, privacy’s intersection with technology, and the mechanisms used to protect privacy and provide help to those harmed by privacy right violations. ABA ROLI, and its partners across the region, will foster locally based but regionally connected networks of digital privacy lawyers who can provide pro bono services to victims of privacy violations. Local partners will also implement programs to raise awareness of digital privacy issues in their jurisdictions and work with policymakers to integrate appropriate safeguards into new and existing laws.

Privacy Advisors

  • Donata Kalnenaite:  Donata is an experienced corporate and data privacy attorney and a Certified Information Privacy Professional; she serves as the President of a SaaS company that generates auto-updating Privacy Policies (Termageddon.com), and the chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals' Chicago Knowledge Net Chapter
  • James Casey serves as a research and innovation contracts executive based in San Antonio, TX, USA. He is currently consulting for Florida State University in this role. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Research Administration and Compliance at CUNY and holds 25 plus years of research management and contract negotiation experience. He is a State Bar of Wisconsin delegate to the ABA House of Delegates and earlier in his career was a Visiting Professor of Leadership at the Upper Iowa University campus in Hong Kong, China.
  • David Husband: David has severed as a Cybersecurity and Privacy Attorney for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for over 8 years and has spent the last year and a half as a Council member on the American Bar Association Science and Technology Section Council.
  • Charles Mok: Charles brings 30 plus years of technology, management and consulting experience in IT, Internet and new media; from 2012-2020 Charles served as the Legislative Councilor representing the Information Technology Functional Constituency in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
  • Laarni Victoria Quidoles Vinas (Lani): Lani is a qualified lawyer in the Philippines, New York, and England and Whales as well as the Legal Director at SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO with extensive experience in IP practice. 
  • Craig Choy: Craig has served at a barrister in Hong Kong since 2004 and has extensive experience in privacy and data protection law in Asia, with an emphasis in Southeast Asia. He has acted as the legal advisor for Keyboard Frontline, a Hong Kong based internet freedom advocacy group; the convenor for the Progressive Lawyer Group, a group of legal practitioners and law students promoting human rights; and the advisor for Hong Kong Democracy Council, a DC-based NGO.

Events

Module One: The Right to Privacy in the Digital Environment
Avaliable OnDemand:
https://digital-privacy.moodlecloud.com/login/index.php

Module Two: International, Regional, and National Privacy Policy Frameworks
Available OnDemand: https://digital-privacy.moodlecloud.com/login/index.php

Module Three: A Review of Key Topics in Digital Privacy
OnDemand: Coming soon!

Module Four: National Data Privacy Regulation and Practices
OnDemand: Coming soon!

Symposium

Defending Digital Privacy in Southeast Asia Regional Symposium
June 22 – 25, 2023
Online & OnDemand sessions

This hybrid conference will connect lawyers and activists focused on digital privacy from Asia and beyond offering both in-person and online sessions, with select content available on-demand for flexible access to explore online privacy challenges and collaborate on effective solutions. The Symposium will include expert panels, featuring prominent lawyers, respected academics, experienced activists, and innovative technologists. Participants will gain valuable insights into the inner workings of social media platforms and algorithms, learn from experts in policy development for companies and governments, and discuss the latest litigation strategies in this dynamic legal field. 

Select sessions are being made available virtually throughout June 22-25 and will be available OnDemand in the coming weeks on our learning platform. Please see below for the schedule and email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

1st Session
Consent Desensitization and Fatigue: A Critique of Consent-based Regulation Structure 
June 22, 2023 | 1:30 PM (Indochina Time in BKK)

by Laarni Victoria Q. Vinas, Legal Director, SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO

Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://americanbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ldeGsqDwvH9I3z4tIKU4H06qwGBfOydTC

2nd Session
Expert Panel: AI and Online Harms 

June 23, 2023 | 1:30 PM  (Indochina Time in BKK)

Moderated by Charles Mok, Visiting Scholar - Stanford University
Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://americanbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMlc-igpjgpGNBQuSzslA9BZ0MpDtY76nv3

3rd Session
Approaches to Defending Digital Privacy 2 — Strategic Litigation for Digital Privacy
June 24, 2023  | 9:30 AM  (Indochina Time in BKK)

by Gilbert Andres, Executive Director, Center for International Law (CenterLaw Philippines)
Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://americanbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpdOuqpj0qG9c8fm4JLii6F7RgdVfsVM8j

4th Session
The Power of Pro Bono Networks

June 25, 2023 | 9:30 AM (Indochina Time in BKK)

by Arthur Nsereko, Head at Network of Public Interest Lawyers
Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://americanbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcrc-ihqjwpEtUr3QemFrsQAYJTj2tvdcfW

5th Session
Access Now Digital Rights Litigators Network (DRLN)
June 25, 2023 | 11:00 AM (Indochina Time in BKK)

by Access Now
Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://americanbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpcu-srjMrE9ClwCl1WbsNItv7Pcfi8MIB

OnDemand Course Translations

  1. English: https://digital-privacy.moodlecloud.com/login/index.php

  2. Bahasa Indonesian: Coming Soon!

  3. Thai: Coming Soon!

  4. Vietnamese: Coming Soon!

Defending Digital Privacy Training Program FAQ

1. Question: Who is eligible to participate in the DDP training program? 

Answer: The DDP training program is open for anyone interested in digital privacy regulations. Modules 1 – 3 are general and relevant to a global audience, while Module 4 focuses on privacy law in specific jurisdictions. See the Defending Digital Privacy website for updated list of jurisdictions.

Live Sessions are limited to specified launch dates (Module 1: April 4, 2023; Module 2: April 18, 2023). We hope to have OnDemand sessions will be available in English two weeks after the Live Session and translated modules to be uploaded within two months.

2.  Question: How can I register and participate in the OnDemand training program?

Answer: The DDP training program is offered on the Moodle learning platform. Participants will need to register here: https://digital-privacy.moodlecloud.com/login/index.php

Once registered, you will be able to access course modules, training materials, recommended resources, and announcements from ABA ROLI regarding upcoming events. Only participants registered and completing trainings through Moodle are eligible for badges and certificates.

3. Question: What if I missed the live sessions?

Answer: All Live sessions will be recorded and uploaded swiftly to the Moodle learning platform and be available OnDemand so you can complete (or re-watch) whenever works best for you.  

4. Question: As a lawyer can I get CLE/CPD credits from taking this training program?

Answer: CLE credit may be available in select jurisdictions. Currently CPR credits will be available for members of the Bar Council Malaysia (BCM) who take the live sessions of Module 1 and 2 (CPR credits for Modules 3 & 4 for BCM members pending). Please contact your local bar association or us for more details about your jurisdiction: [email protected]

5.  Question: Do I get a certificate for completing the training program?

Answer: Badges are available via the Moodle learning platform for people who complete a module- completion requires you to watch the training videos and pass all quizzes. For people attending the Live Sessions, you must complete the pre and post training surveys sent via email.

Certificates of completion for people successfully completing all four modules may be available upon request at [email protected].

6. Question: How do I share Moodle Badges on my social media?

Answer: To export Badges from Moodle to your social media, you will need a Badgr Backpack – this is a platform that stores all digital certificates. Follow the instructions in Moodle.

Additional information for sharing Moodle Badges can be found here: https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/learningtechnology/2022/02/08/adding-your-moodle-open-badges-to-your-linkedin-profile/

And in this instructional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsPXcF63KLk