This is a big deal if true. I can't imagine they did that without https or other encryption. It would have to be FB doing this.

I've often wondered how many controls Facebook gives to SE Asia in exchange for being allowed to operate there. Do they get moderator powers or alert systems?

In Vietnam about 5 years ago, you could only use Facebook on your phone. It's hard for me to imagine the dictatorships of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam welcoming Facebook and allowing the population to freely criticize the government.

It's interesting that you can view the content, but just not like it.

I wonder if it's being logged who tries to like and fails, and if so, who has access to that info.

Seems in line with what is known so far, e.g. https://gking.harvard.edu/publications/how-censorship-china-...

That does seem consistent. But why adopt that strategy? Why not pull out the dissent by its roots?

They're giving them a delusion of freedom so that most won't realize they're censored or passively accept it. If the government goes all out then it might cause a revolt. Soft tactics are always scarier than hard tactics.

Laos is quite locked down, beyond the internet. You technically can't form a group (e.g. a book club) there without the government's consent, and it is very hard for NGOs to operate. I would not be surprised at any level of internet censorship there, except that Vientiane is within cell distance of Thailand, so maybe that forces them open a little.