text: [{"text_idx": "#000003", "text": "UN says thousands trafficked into online crime in SE Asia"}, {"text_idx": "#000004", "text": "The scale of online scam operations in Southeast Asia is difficult to gauge. (AFP pic)"}, {"text_idx": "#000005", "text": "GENEVA: Hundreds of thousands of people are being coerced in Southeast Asia by criminal gangs into carrying out online scams, often under the threat of torture, the United Nations said today."}, {"text_idx": "#000006", "text": "Many have been trafficked into working in online criminality and face serious violations such as torture or sexual violence, the UN said in a report."}, {"text_idx": "#000007", "text": "\u201cPeople who are coerced into working in these scamming operations endure inhumane treatment while being forced to carry out crimes,\u201d UN human rights chief Volker Turk said."}, {"text_idx": "#000008", "text": "\u201cThey are victims. They are not criminals.\u201d"}, {"text_idx": "#000009", "text": "The scale of the scourge in Southeast Asia is difficult to gauge because of the practice\u2019s clandestine nature and gaps in the response by authorities, the report noted."}, {"text_idx": "#000010", "text": "However, it said that credible sources indicated that at least 120,000 people across Myanmar may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams."}, {"text_idx": "#000011", "text": "Estimates in Cambodia are at around 100,000, it added."}, {"text_idx": "#000012", "text": "Laos, the Philippines and Thailand are among other nations in the region identified as the main countries of destination or transit."}, {"text_idx": "#000013", "text": "The scam centres generate revenue amounting to billions of dollars a year, the UN said."}, {"text_idx": "#000015", "text": "Most people trafficked into the online scam operations are men, although women and teens are also victims, the report said."}, {"text_idx": "#000016", "text": "The illicit networks benefited from the Covid pandemic, which in some countries saw casinos closed under public health measures."}, {"text_idx": "#000017", "text": "This led to casino operators moving to less regulated spaces, including conflict-affected border areas, and online, the report said."}, {"text_idx": "#000018", "text": "The Covid crisis also left many migrants more vulnerable, stranded in countries and out of work due to border and business closures."}, {"text_idx": "#000019", "text": "Lockdowns also saw people spending more time online and susceptible to becoming targets of online fraud, the report said."}, {"text_idx": "#000022", "text": "Flood-ravaged Libya in grisly hunt for thousands still missing"}, {"text_idx": "#000026", "text": "ADB cuts inflation forecast for developing Asia"}, {"text_idx": "#000031", "text": "Sindiket judi online, pengurup wang digital haram tumpas"}, {"text_idx": "#000032", "text": "French Open offers players tool to filter out online abuse"}]