Southeast Asia, – Virtually Islamic News

Thu 10 Muharram 1448AH 25-6-2026AD
Fatwas, Indonesia, Malaysia, Research, Southeast Asia,

‘Effective Fatwas‘ article

This caught my attention (haven’t read it yet): Syafiq Hasyim, ‘Effective Fatwas and Shariatisation in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore‘, Archipel [Online], 111 | 2026, June 2026, http://journals.openedition.org/archipel/10169 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/16fx3 “This article argues that the institutionalisation of...

Tue 27 Muharram 1447AH 22-7-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Malaysia, Malaysia Internet, Nvidia, Southeast Asia,

NationGate AI Issues

Lionel Lim, Fortune, Malaysia’s AI darling NationGate sees shares tumble after it got raided in a scrap metal smuggling probe, 18 Jul 2025. “NationGate is the only company in...

Wed 23 Dhul Qidah 1446AH 21-5-2025AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Southeast Asia,

Indonesia ‘pornography crackdown‘

SCMP, Indonesia’s online porn crackdown nets 380,000 content removals, 21 May 2025 “Indonesia ranks fourth globally and second in Southeast Asia for cases of child pornography, with about 5.6...

Wed 8 Rajab 1446AH 8-1-2025AD
e-commerce, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Southeast Asia,, TikTok

Off their trolleys

Michelle Anindya and Lam Le, Rest of World, YouTube Shopping wants to unseat TikTok Shop in Southeast Asia, 6 Jan 2025 “YouTube has partnered with Shopee to launch YouTube Shopping in...

Conference Hall, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia - UIII

Sat 14 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 16-11-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Conferences, Gary R. Bunt, Indonesia Internet, Southeast Asia,

The Future of Artificial Intelligence in/and of Islam

Back in July, I participated in a fascinating conference and masterclass organised by Project 0100/Bart Barendregt (Leiden University). It was titled ‘The Future of Artificial Intelligence in/and of Islam:...

Tue 24 Muharram 1446AH 30-7-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Languages, Southeast Asia,

Southeast Asia Language AI

David Austin, Fortune, AI can help bridge Southeast Asia’s 1,000 languages—but the work ‘has to be done by Southeast Asians, 30 Jul 2024 “With over 1,000 languages, Southeast Asia...

Mon 11 Dhul Hijjah 1445AH 17-6-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Malaysia, Malaysia Internet, Southeast Asia,

Malaysia AI Influence

Dylan Butts, CNBC, Malaysia is emerging as a data center powerhouse amid booming demand from AI, 16 Jun 2024. “Malaysia is emerging as a data center powerhouse in Southeast...

Wed 15 Shawwal 1445AH 24-4-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, e-commerce, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, NFTs, Southeast Asia,

Crypto Indonesia

Perspectives on aspects of crypto from the Indonesian president:

Wed 8 Shawwal 1445AH 17-4-2024AD
Apple, Business, Indonesia, Southeast Asia,

Apple+Indonesia(?)

Reuters, Apple CEO says it is considering a manufacturing facility in Indonesia, 17 Apr 2024 “Indonesia has a huge, tech-savvy population, making the Southeast Asian nation a key target...

Fri 26 Ramadan 1445AH 5-4-2024AD
Business, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Malaysia, Malaysia Internet, Ramadan, Southeast Asia,

Ramadan online

The commercial impact of online shopping during Ramadan:

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

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Indonesia Online Gambling Thu 27 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 8-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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