On July 30, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the ASEAN National Police (ASEANAPOL) Secretariat, under the leadership of Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan, and TikTok Pte. Ltd., Singapore, jointly organized a webinar titled “TikTok Support for Law Enforcement.” The event featured Ms. Elisabeth Potuijt, the Law Enforcement Outreach Manager for the Southeast Asia region at TikTok, as the Subject-Matter
Expert. The primary goal of the webinar was to equip law enforcement officers with the knowledge and tools necessary to leverage TikTok's support for law enforcement efforts, particularly within the ASEAN region.
TikTok, a social media platform launched in September 2016 by ByteDance, has transformed the way people create, share, and engage with short-form video content. The platform allows users to create videos ranging from 15 seconds to three minutes, featuring various music, sound effects, and visual effects. Key features include a user-friendly interface, creative tools, viral challenges, diverse content, and an algorithm-driven feed that curates personalized content for users. With over a billion active users, TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon, influencing trends in music, fashion, and entertainment, and providing opportunities for influencers and content creators to build large followings and launch successful careers.
Law enforcement officers, particularly police station desk officers and investigators, often receive complaints from constituents about cybercrimes such as cyber libel, scams, posting Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM), endorsement of radical ideology, and terrorist recruitment campaigns. These crimes undermine the norms of a peaceful and orderly society. Cyber law offenders exploit platforms like TikTok for their activities, presenting significant challenges for law enforcement officers on how to seek support from social media companies. The webinar addressed these issues, providing practical guidance on collaborating with TikTok to effectively combat such cybercrimes.
The webinar saw participation from about 189 virtual attendees from ASEANAPOL member countries, including the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos PDR, and Thailand, along with participants from Brazil, Timor Leste, and the USA. Following Ms. Elisabeth Potuijt's presentation, an open forum allowed participants to ask questions, which the Subject-Matter Expert addressed, clarifying challenges faced by law enforcement officers. The ASEANAPOL Secretariat will continue to engage with other social media and related organizations to conduct similar capacity-building and training activities as part of its Police Information and Continuing Education initiative. This initiative aims to ensure law enforcement professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support and assist constituents, ultimately striving to create a safer environment for living, working, and conducting business.
“Together We Keep This Region Safe"