Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew Herrup provided opening remarks for The Stimson Center’s launch of the ninth report in its MUSP Track 1.5 policy dialogue series, this one on countering online scam operations. The policy dialogue convened 90 participants from the private sector, media, civil society, and public sector to define and outline actionable steps and coordination to address online scam operations. The priority policy recommendations include: 1) governance and oversight systems to provide guidance on the complexity of the scams; 2) legally binding codes or laws for companies to address scam operations on their platforms; 3) convening specialists to improve collaboration; and 4) strengthen implementation of existing agreements and regional efforts. The report launch was part of a larger event, “Navigating Mainland Southeast Asia: Mekong Governance, Cyber Scams, and Regional Flashpoints,” which hosted several panels on additional topics including Mekong River environmental issues, science diplomacy, current events in Myanmar, and war legacies.
