This commitment was formalized through the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Combating Cybercrime and Online Scams at the Nineteenth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (19th AMMTC) in Malacca, Malaysia, on September 10, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Wednesday (September 17).
The declaration underscores the growing threat of cybercrime and online fraud, which are increasingly evolving into forms of transnational organized crime.
These crimes also trigger other offenses such as identity theft, phishing, financial fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, online gambling, people smuggling, and trafficking in persons (TIP).
ASEAN member states expressed concern over the social impacts and financial losses, including the erosion of public trust.
Through the declaration, ASEAN agreed to enhance coordination in law enforcement, raise public awareness, and strengthen research on emerging online crime tactics.
Member states also pledged to improve policies and regulations at both national and regional levels, as well as bolster cooperation through information exchange, capacity building, mutual legal assistance, extradition, joint operations, and the development of data infrastructure.
Efforts are also being made to strengthen the capacity of frontline officers to detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercriminals, including online fraud syndicates, and to trace illegal financial flows.
Member states are further advocating the establishment of dedicated points of contact, such as anti-scam centers, to track and freeze illicit funds.
The declaration also emphasized the importance of cooperation with stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels, including the private sector, financial institutions, ASEAN dialogue partners, and non-governmental organizations, in efforts to prevent crimes, prosecute offenders, and protect victims.
During the forum, Indonesia encouraged more research into new tactics and methods used by online criminals, joint investigations, and closer collaboration with ASEAN dialogue partners, as well as greater cooperation across ASEAN pillars.
In addition to adopting the declaration, the meeting discussed the latest transnational crime trends, including the surge in online fraud cases involving artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes, ransomware, and cryptocurrencies.
The AMMTC serves as ASEAN's highest decision-making forum for the prevention and eradication of transnational crime, including border management.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Primayanti
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