Digital Platform Regulation
Malaysia and Indonesia have suspended access to social network X. Both nations cited the platform's allowance of non-consensual sexual imagery. Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission stated that X's response to demands for safeguards was insufficient. Indonesia's Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, described non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious human rights violation. India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has also reportedly issued warnings to X regarding sexual deepfakes. Elon Musk, owner of X, has attributed the blocks to attempts to suppress free speech.
Cybersecurity and Law Enforcement
Cambodia's government announced the arrest and extradition of three Chinese nationals to China, citing efforts to combat transnational crime. Authorities in the USA and China allege that one of the arrested individuals, Chen Zhi, is involved in operating forced-labor cyber-scam camps in Cambodia. These camps are reported to lure workers under false pretenses and force them into scams generating significant financial losses for victims. The arrests represent a change in Cambodia's cooperation with international efforts against these operations.
Technology Business Developments
Chinese web company Baidu plans to float its chipmaking business unit, Kunlunxin. The spin-off aims to highlight Kunlunxin's value, attract investors in the AI chip sector, and enhance its market presence and financing capabilities. Kunlunxin designs AI acceleration silicon primarily for Baidu's internal services.
South Korean web giant Naver has completed an AI computing cluster featuring 4,000 Nvidia B200 GPUs. This new cluster is projected to develop a 72-billion-parameter AI model in approximately six weeks, a task that previously took 18 months with existing A100-powered systems. Naver anticipates this cluster will rank among the world's most powerful supercomputers.
Digital Advertising Regulation
Vietnam has enacted a new law requiring publishers to enable users to close video advertisements after five seconds. Government Decree No. 342/2025/ND-CP, effective February 15th, also includes provisions for monitoring and removing illegal or anonymous ads. Non-compliant publishers may face blocked access. These measures target scam ads and promotions for illegal products.
Corporate Strategy and Rebirth
Panasonic Group CEO Yuki Kusumi outlined 2026 as a year for the company's "rebirth." Kusumi stated Panasonic would refine operations through data and AI to boost efficiency and speed, pursuing continuous reform. He cited the analogy of a "noodle shop" to illustrate the company's ideal state, emphasizing hard work, daily customer feedback, and continuous improvement, a philosophy previously championed by founder Kōnosuke Matsushita.