ASIATODAY.ID, MALACCA – ASEAN member states reaffirmed their collective commitment to fighting transnational crime through the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Cybercrime and Online Scams at the Nineteenth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (19th AMMTC), held in Malacca, Malaysia, on September 10, 2025.
The declaration highlights the growing threats of cybercrime and online scams, which have evolved into highly organized cross-border operations. These crimes are often linked to other serious offenses, including identity theft, phishing, financial fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, illegal online gambling, people smuggling, and trafficking in persons (TIP).
ASEAN expressed deep concern over the social impacts and financial losses caused by digital crimes, as well as the erosion of public trust. To address these challenges, member states pledged to:
Strengthen cross-border law enforcement coordination
Enhance public awareness and policy reforms at both national and regional levels
Develop joint data infrastructure and information-sharing mechanisms
Build frontline capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercriminals and online fraud syndicates
Establish dedicated points-of-contact, such as anti-scam centers, to trace and freeze illicit funds
The declaration also emphasizes the importance of collaboration with stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels — including the private sector, financial institutions, ASEAN dialogue partners, and civil society organizations — to advance prevention, enforcement, and victim protection.
Indonesia, in particular, called for more research on emerging tactics used by cybercriminals, joint investigations, stronger cooperation with ASEAN partners, and enhanced cross-pillar collaboration within ASEAN. The meeting also addressed new trends in transnational crime, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes, ransomware, and cryptocurrencies in online scams.
As ASEAN’s highest decision-making forum on transnational crime, AMMTC plays a strategic role in strengthening regional resilience against increasingly complex cyber threats. (AT Network)
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