Public Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region

Digital platforms and ecosystems are increasingly contested spaces, especially when it comes to issues of governance, competition, data flows and rights. Policy makers are grappling with harnessing the potential of platforms for wider societal benefit while also mitigating against risks such as loss of privacy or monopolistic behaviour. In our Platform Futures series we speak[…]

Shifting Sands for Tech Governance in China

2020 was a year of extreme highs and lows for the fortunes of technology platforms in China. From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic they were central to sustaining economic activity during lockdown and maintaining a ‘new normal’ as the country re-opened. Their dominance over life in China seemed emphatic. By the end of the[…]

Exploring the Mobility and Gig Economy in Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest market in Southeast Asia and one of the most dynamic digital economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Ojo (motorbike taxi) is considered to be a cultural symbol and key mobility artery to many Indonesians. Today, platforms Go Jek and Grab, global Decacorns each valued over 10 US$ billion, have built an[…]

What Role do Platforms Play as a Space for New Subcultures to Emerge and Thrive?

Global and local social media platforms play a growing role in people’s lives; a space to seek knowledge, entertainment and love, transact goods and services, and to develop a sense of community and belonging. They also make it possible for many to become content creators creating new economies. In many ways, these platforms play the[…]

Data Flows and Tech Policy in India

Through a new program on Platform Futures, the Digital Asia Hub aims to convene a network of academics and experts studying multiple aspects of platforms, and to create a space for dialogue on opportunities, challenges, and governance best practices in the APAC context. Smitha Krishna Prasad has been working with the Centre for Communication Governance[…]