Digitalisation continues to play a significant role in Southeast Asia’s growth story, with the digital economy comprising between 8.40% (Indonesia) and 23.90% (Thailand) of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Beyond leveraging digitalisation to meet economic goals, Southeast Asia is navigating the broader societal implications of digital technologies, including new risks and opportunities.

The virtual launch brought together stakeholders from government, industry, academic and civil institutions to discuss how Southeast Asia can build societies that participate in, benefit from, and trust digital transformation. Speakers emphasised that a confident digital society requires more than connectivity alone — it depends on trust, resilience, meaningful participation, and the ability of people and businesses to engage safely and productively in the digital economy.

Scenesetting and Report Launch

• Citra Nasruddin, Programme Director, Tech for Good Institute (TFGI)
• Vicah Villanueva, Programme Associate, Tech for Good Institute (TFGI)

Moderator and Panellists

• Moderator
  • Keith Detros, Programme Manager, Tech for Good Institute (TFGI)
• Panellists
  • Stephanie King-chung Hung, Director-General, Information and Technology Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Josephine Romero, Senior Adviser, ASEAN BAC Philippines

Key Takeaways

1. Confidence in a digital society depends on trust, inclusion, and resilience

A central message from the event was that digital progress cannot be measured solely by infrastructure or access. A confident digital society emerges when people, businesses, and institutions are willing to rely on digital systems because those systems are safe, inclusive, resilient, and meaningful in everyday life. This aligns with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030, which shifts focus from connectivity alone towards an inclusive digital ecosystem where security and trust are primary benchmarks of success.

The discussion made clear that confidence in a digital society depends not only on connectivity but also on whether people can meaningfully use and trust digital systems. People need affordable devices, the literacy to use digital tools effectively, and trust that their data is protected and digital systems will work reliably for them.

However, these enabling conditions remain unevenly distributed across the region, with the greatest gaps often most visible in the “last mile”, where access, skills, and trust are weakest. These disparities are also reflected in public service delivery. The OECD Government at Glance: Southeast Asia 2025 report identifies a persistent gap in digital administrative services (e.g., online public services that may be supplemented with digital identity solutions) despite high internet penetration in the region. For example, in seven out of eight ASEAN countries less than 50% of public services are accessible through secure and user-friendly digital identity-enabled platforms. Thus, building a confident digital society is not just a technical challenge, but a human and institutional one, requiring deliberate efforts to close gaps in access, skills, and trust.

2. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) empowerment and AI readiness are regional priorities for broadening the benefits of digital transformation

The event underscored that Southeast Asia’s digital future will depend heavily on whether small businesses and workers are equipped to participate productively. Speakers pointed to the growth of MSME, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and human capital development as some of the defining themes for the ASEAN 2026 Philippine Chairship. To support MSME empowerment, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) is exploring the revamp of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN), with a focus on ensuring enterprises in the region have access to “mentorship, money, and market” (3Ms).   

The emergence of advanced digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) has broadened the definition of future readiness beyond digital usage and adoption. Speakers stressed that readiness in the age of AI requires responsible governance, secure systems, strong data foundations, and sustained investment in human capabilities. This echoes the objectives of the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (2025-2030). The pace of AI development was described as far faster than earlier waves of technological transformation, making upskilling, digital literacy, critical and connective skills increasingly urgent. The broader implication is clear: digital transformation will only be socially and economically sustainable if both enterprises and individuals are prepared not only to use new technologies, but also to adapt alongside them.

3. Regional cooperation is the practical foundation for an inclusive digital future in Southeast Asia

A recurring theme throughout the panel was that no country in Southeast Asia can build a confident digital society in isolation. The region’s digital future is shaped by shared infrastructure, cross-border markets, common vulnerabilities, and overlapping policy challenges. Speakers highlighted interoperable digital payments, trade and financial connectivity, data protection, cybersecurity standards, and regional knowledge-sharing as key areas where cooperation can reduce friction and enable more inclusive growth. These priorities are reflected in ongoing efforts under the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), as of early 2026.

Public-private collaboration was also emphasised as essential, particularly in scaling solutions beyond pilot initiatives and ensuring that governments and policies can keep pace with rapid digital change. The discussion underscored that societal confidence is strengthened when cooperation is not treated as optional, but as a structural enabler of digital participation, resilience, and shared economic opportunity across the region.