Harmonising ASEAN's Anti-spam Regulations: Strategies for Effective Cross-border Enforcement and Enhanced Regional Cooperation

Spam remains a critical issue in the digital landscape, despite its slight global decline. In 2023, spam accounted for 45.6% of global emails and remains a major vector for malware and phishing attacks. Within ASEAN, spam-related issues challenge productivity, cybersecurity, and consumer protection. To address these challenges, ASEAN Member States have initiated various anti-spam measures, guided by regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and the ASEAN–China Initiative on Enhancing Cooperation on E-commerce. However, the diversity of anti-spam legislation – particularly the variance between opt-in and opt-out models – complicates cross-border enforcement. This policy brief advocates for a harmonised approach to spam regulation, drawing on international best practices. Recommendations include adopting an opt-in model for better cross-border enforcement, strengthening consumer education, investing in advanced spam-filtering technologies, and enhancing regional cooperation through frameworks like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement and the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area to ensure consistency and effectiveness in combating spam across ASEAN. Latest Articles