In recent years, Southeast Asia has emerged as the epicenter of a new and serious trend: cyber slavery. Across Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, thousands of individuals, including Indian nationals, are being lured and trafficked through fake online job offers and then forced to commit digital fraud. What started as isolated incidents a few years ago has now evolved into a large-scale organized crime network that combines human trafficking, cybercrime, online fraud, and money laundering.

This development highlights critical gaps in regional security. Southeast Asia’s digital transformation goes far beyond regulation and cybersecurity preparedness. Cyberslavery thrives on weak enforcement, fragmented information sharing, and limited cross-border coordination, demonstrating the inadequacy of existing frameworks to address digital, transnational, and humane crimes.

rationale

For India, cyber slavery is not a phenomenon of the distant future. According to the Indian Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Center (I4C), around 48% of financial fraud in India originates from these Southeast Asian fraud centers. Several Indian nationals reportedly work at these centres. The recent rescue of some Indian nationals from fraud centers in Myanmar and Cambodia highlights the need for stronger cyber defenses and more structured cooperation with Southeast Asian partners. This phenomenon is not only a human trafficking issue, but also a cybersecurity and governance challenge. Cooperation among CERTs and strengthening cybersecurity mechanisms, from early warning systems to digital forensics and financial tracking, are critical to combating this evolving threat.

In this context, Observer Research Foundation is proposing a day-long private workshop in Kolkata aimed at unraveling the multifaceted nature of the evolving phenomenon. The proposed hybrid workshop will convene Indian government officials, Southeast Asian diplomats, relevant law enforcement agencies, state police, subject matter experts, and academics.

the purpose

The objectives of the proposed one-day workshop are:

• Understand the operational and technical architecture of Southeast Asia’s cyber slavery networks.
• Assess India’s current policies and institutional responses, including detection, rescue and rehabilitation mechanisms.
• Identify gaps in cross-border cybersecurity coordination, legal frameworks, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Explore pathways for expanding India-ASEAN cooperation through capacity building, joint task forces, and digital intelligence sharing.