This report, produced by APSI in partnership with Australia’s Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation Program and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, is the result of a multi-year cyber-capacity building program focused on supporting the effective implementation of UN norms throughout ASEAN.

This report looks at the increasing use of WhatsApp and other messaging apps in government, and their associated risks and benefits. These apps are useful but need to be used carefully to ensure the downsides – including a lack of transparency, poor communication and poor record keeping – do not outweigh the positives.

This report recommends Australia and India leverage their bilateral partnership in cyber and critical technologies to support inclusive digital development in Southeast Asia, and strengthen the foundations of Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting a growing range of economic and social activity across national borders. This trend threatens to disadvantage Australia and requires policies to build up the country’s own technological capacities, while devising innovative ways to manage the risks entailed in growing digital connections with China.

Researchers sought feedback from more than 1,500 Australian consumers and more than 400 small business owners about their online needs and challenges. The research found that most consumers feel that the Internet has a positive impact on their lives. However, the research also found consumers and small businesses are not as confident as they could...