Twitter today announced the expansion of its #ThereIsHelp notification service and Freedom of Expression Search Prompt in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This is a part of its continued efforts to protect and promote the #OpenInternet globally. The search prompt is a first for these countries, and marks the anniversary of the launch in Thailand last year.
As part of this initiative, Twitter is partnering with local civic and government organizations (@CIJ_Malaysia, @lawyers4liberty, @SUHAKAM), and the notification service will appear whenever people search keywords associated with freedom of expression on Twitter. The prompt will make available hotline numbers of these organizations and links to local partners to those in need of advice or access to resources related to freedom of expression and digital rights.
“At Twitter, our mission is to serve the public conversation. We believe that freedom of expression along with access to a free and #OpenInternet is a fundamental human right. The pressures driving internet regulation in Southeast Asia highlight diverse challenges and implications, this is especially so for vulnerable groups. Expanding the #ThereIsHelp search prompt is part of our continued commitment to helping at-risk voices in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Our collaboration with local partners will ensure timely and easy access to important information and essential resources for those who need it most,” said Monrawee Ampolpittayanant – Head of Public Policy and Philanthropy, Southeast Asia at Twitter.
Twitter has become part of the daily life of millions of people; particularly for at-risk groups such as journalists and activists, and as the digital economy in Southeast Asian countries continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for access to free, high quality information via the internet and the right of people to safely express themselves. The future of the internet in Southeast Asia is at a crossroads with increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks potentially restricting freedom of expression and it has never been more important for people – especially activists and journalists – to know their rights and that support is available.
“As we navigate the ever-changing, dynamic political space and the pandemic in Malaysia, we continue to battle attempts by state and non-state actors that threaten and limit our freedom of expression and speech as well as our right to information,” said Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director of Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia. “The increase in both online and offline harassment, and attempts to silence those who speak up, demonstrate the urgent need to take action against these injustices. The #ThereIsHelp initiative by Twitter is timely and we hope that this collaboration would enable us to reach out and support a wider range of communities and individuals who need information and assistance.”
Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/CIJ_Malaysia/status/1530009320574054400
“Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a democratic country and while it is a part of our Federal Constitution, criminal charges continue to be brought against individuals who are simply exercising their right to free speech. Today, laws such as the Sedition Act and section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act are sometimes used in a way that discourage the rakyat from speaking their minds,” said Zaid Malek, Director of Lawyers for Liberty. “As an organization that seeks to protect and promote human rights and civil liberties, our partnership with Twitter is significant and will greatly help the public to get access and information regarding their rights should they face harassment from authorities. They will know that they are not alone.”
Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/lawyers4liberty/status/1529990923106496512
“Investigations against expressions of dissent may result in harassment and, if continued to be left unchecked, may create a longer term impact where people are unable to exercise their right to freedom of expression in fear of legal repercussions. Partnering with Twitter on the #ThereIsHelp search prompt will empower people and give them the confidence to express themselves without fear,” said a representative from The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).
Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/SUHAKAM/status/1529985114481905664
Twitter’s #ThereIsHelp notification service provides timely support when and where it is needed the most. In partnership with reputable local organizations, the search prompt helps to surface authoritative information and provides direct contact information to credible sources of help, enabling people timely access to the information they need. Today, Twitter has launched over 300 #ThereIsHelp prompts with 41 languages available in 106 markets around the world on a wide range of issues; including mental health and suicide prevention, vaccination, child sexual exploitation, COVID-19, gender-based violence, HIV and disaster response. In Southeast Asia, the Freedom of Expression search prompt was first launched in Thailand last year as part of Twitter’s global effort to help connect people in need of legal support when exercising the right to freedom of expression. The launch in Thailand marked an important milestone for Twitter globally as it was the first search prompt developed for Human Rights Defenders.
