Executive Summary

Key Findings

• Digitalisation has unevenly transformed ASEAN’s culture and media sectors, reflecting the region’s broader socio-economic disparities.
• The environmental footprint of digital cultural initiatives is growing, requiring new approaches to ensure sustainability.
• While digital platforms enhance cultural preservation and access, the risk of cultural homogenisation challenges traditional practices and local content creation.
• Digital infrastructure and literacy gaps create uneven access to cultural resources, deepening existing inequalities.
• The socio-economic impact of digitalisation presents opportunities for new creative industries and risks for traditional cultural practitioners.
• Cross-border digital platforms enable unprecedented cultural exchange while raising concerns about cultural sovereignty and data protection.

Policy Landscape

• AMS have varied policy approaches on digitalisation, preservation, and environmental sustainability in the culture and media sectors.
• Some AMS implement targeted initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of digital technologies in these sectors, while others remain in early stages of policy development.
• While current AMS policies address national priorities, there is potential to coordinate policies at the ASEAN level.

Challenges

• Balancing digital accessibility and infrastructure development against environmental sustainability.
• Managing the growing e-waste and energy consumption of digital cultural services.
• Enhancing the visibility and vitality of local cultural content alongside the dominant global digital platforms.
• Ensuring equitable access to digital cultural resources for ASEAN’s diverse populations.
• Protecting data sovereignty and cultural intellectual property rights in digital spaces.
• Developing coherent cross-sector policies that address the interconnectedness of digitalisation, culture, and sustainability.

Policy Recommendations

1. Develop ASEAN policies for digital cultural preservation and promotion.
2. Encourage investment in digital infrastructure and literacy to bridge the digital divide.
3. Implement comprehensive measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of digitalisation in the culture and media sectors.
4. Support local content creators and cultural practitioners in the digital transition.
5. Foster cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing.
6. Develop adaptive regulatory frameworks for emerging digital challenges.
7. Promote sustainable approaches to digital cultural engagement.
8. Integrate environmental and cultural considerations into digital development.

These recommendations aim to foster a vibrant, sustainable, and culturally rich digital future for ASEAN’s culture and media sectors, balancing innovation with environmental responsibility and cultural authenticity.