Ling Li

Ling Li, a PhD researcher focused on modern slavery, and Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies, share insights into Southeast Asia's alarming online scam industry. They discuss the chilling realities of scam compounds, where victims are coerced into criminal roles, revealing complex victim profiles and the psychological burdens they face. Their research highlights the concept of 'compound capitalism' and the ethical challenges in victim support. They propose an ASEAN-wide victim identification protocol and call for societal changes to prevent exploitation.