On May 19, 2026, the Observer Research Foundation America and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, in partnership with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, hosted a Virtual Southeast Asia Cyber Policy Roundtable.

This invitation-only event focused on the impact of emerging threats and artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of cybersecurity in Southeast Asia and examined the latest developments in the digital threat landscape and artificial intelligence for cyber and the implications for cyber diplomacy, cyber governance, and cyber policy. With an evolving threat environment propelled by criminals, non-state actors, and states, this discussion assessed the importance of understanding AI’s role in diversifying threat vectors and the corresponding capability to defend against threats using AI tools for cyber defense and risk reduction across Southeast Asia. Experts reviewed the latest threats across business, health, education, data protection, government services, and critical infrastructure. They described how AI concurrently amplifies and mitigates threats, how governments and societies prepare and defend against a new AI-powered set of cyber threats, and offered specific practical examples and solutions. Featured speakers for this event included experts from government, private sector, and civil society:

• Benjamin Ang, Head, Centre of Excellence for National Security, Future Issues in Technology, Digital Impact, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

• Eugene Chew, Deputy Director, International Cyber Policy Office, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

• Michael Karimian, Director, Digital Diplomacy, Asia and the Pacific, Microsoft

• Yihao Lim, Lead Threat Intelligence Advisor (JAPAC & MEA), Google Threat Intelligence Group

• Elina Noor, Nonresident Scholar, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Moderator: Bruce W. McConnell, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation America

A summary of the meeting can be found here.

These convenings were part of a larger Global Cyber Dialogue Series being organized by ORF America and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands which seeks to convene regional dialogues to address key cyber challenges, strengthen multistakeholder networks, and increase coordination of regional capacity building initiatives.