A surge in fake news around Southeast Asia, particularly bogus Covid-19 information, has prompted leaders to explore a regional crackdown after a suggestion from a Vietnamese security official. Police agencies in the 10 Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries should improve cooperation to stop fake news among other cross-border crimes, a Vietnamese official said at a recent meeting with peers from around Southeast Asia. Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam would be most eager of 10 member states, said Associate Professor Dr Alan Chong from RSIS. Vietnam particularly has a lot riding on the accuracy of news, he said. Free speech is unprotected legally, but Vietnamese officials – mindful of economic development – seldom block websites. “It’s part of Vietnam’s ongoing war against bloggers and social media because social media is considered extremely subversive and it subverts the image and authority of the Vietnamese Communist Party,” he said.