Report - Impact of the '4th Industrial Revolution' (4IR) on marginalized and vulnerable groups in ASEAN : Victor Karunan

Happy New Year. Hope all well.

Pleased to share a study on the Impacts of 4IR on marginalized and vulnerable groups in ASEAN countries which was conducted last year and just published by the ASEAN Secretariat-Jakarta. I was the Deputy Regional Research lead for this study which was commissioned by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Senior Officials Ministers of Social Development (SOMWSD) in ASEAN – funded by the Asia Foundation and IDRC-Canada.

Request to share this with XUNICEF colleagues in the next issue of XUNICEF newsletter.

Thanks - Victor

ASEAN Regional Study on the Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on Marginalised and Vulnerable Groups

Authors: Prapaporn Tivayanond Mongkhonvanit, Victor Karunan, Yannik Mieruch

Publication: The ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta

Date: 2025

Click here for the PDF document

Summary

The ASEAN Secretariat has published a comprehensive regional study examining how Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies impact marginalized and vulnerable populations across ASEAN Member States. The study was led by Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security with support from the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development, and funding from the International Development Research Centre and The Asia Foundation.

The report makes five key recommendations: ensure digital technology access in rural and remote areas; provide workforce learning opportunities for changing job requirements; offer training and resources for marginalized groups to engage in digital entrepreneurship; customize digital content to be linguistically and culturally appropriate; and deploy a holistic approach integrating economic growth with social wellbeing efforts.

The report analyzes the effects of 4IR technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, and blockchain on three priority vulnerable groups: children and youth, persons with disabilities, and older persons. While ASEAN Member States have historically focused 4IR support toward economic purposes, the study emphasizes that technological advancement represents a profound social transformation requiring inclusive policies to ensure no one is left behind.

The research reveals that ASEAN's digital economy is projected to add $1 trillion to regional GDP over the next decade, with 125,000 new internet users daily and booming e-commerce. 

However, vulnerable groups face heightened risks of digital exclusion, job displacement, and online exploitation. Children and youth encounter online safety threats but can benefit from digital education initiatives. Older persons confront digital exclusion yet could gain from healthcare innovations and independent living technologies. Persons with disabilities have limited access to assistive technologies despite their significant potential.

The study found that current 4IR policies across ASEAN Member States predominantly target educated, upper-middle and high-income urban populations, with insufficient focus on marginalized groups. Digital infrastructure investment concentrates in rapidly growing cities, draining resources from rural areas. Economic diversity among member states creates varying capacities to invest in 4IR technologies, with wealthier countries like Singapore and Brunei Darussalam achieving higher internet penetration than others.

Socio-economic trends vary significantly across the region. Thailand and Singapore experience rapid population aging requiring healthcare innovations, while Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia have large youth populations demanding digital education programs. Poverty reduction has progressed but inequality persists, particularly in access to employment, education and infrastructure for vulnerable populations.

Implementation emphasizes the role of SOMSWD and relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies working with health, education, social welfare and labor ministries. Six ASEAN Member States have established high-level central coordinating agencies for 4IR policies: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand. Other member states are urged to establish national coordination mechanisms or Special Task Forces on 4IR and vulnerable groups.

The study concludes that social protection programs provide an important entry point for integrating 4IR technologies to benefit disadvantaged groups. It calls for adaptive flexibility, agile regulatory approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and continuous dialogue among ASEAN Member States to ensure equitable distribution of 4IR benefits while protecting the rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Quotes

"The 4IR is not only a technological shift: it is a social transformation that reshapes how citizens live and work."

"Major national and sectoral 4IR digital and technology roadmaps have been directed towards mainstream groups of educated, upper-middle- and high-income populations in cities and urban centres, with less focus on the needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups in the ASEAN region."

"The ASEAN digital economy is growing significantly and is estimated to add $1 trillion to regional GDP over the next ten years. There are around 125,000 new internet users in the region entering the Internet every day."

"Vulnerable and marginalised groups are at a higher risk of not having access to digital technologies leaving them unable to optimise the benefits of digitalisation, particularly in education, health, labour market, and social welfare and social protection."

"By proactively embracing the advancements that the 4IR offers, ASEAN societies can harness its potential for positive impacts while mitigating its risks and ensuring a sustainable, inclusive future."