Digital struggle and resistance in the Myanmar revolution 10/31/24, 11:36 AM He also described how digital platforms are used to gather donations for the resistance. Revolutionary media channels also earn money through viewer clicks and interactions, which helps support the movement. In many regions, perhaps half of the country, the military junta has cut off internet access to disrupt communication. However, alternative methods have been found to stay connected, such as satellite internet services like Starlink. He explained that since the coup, the State Administrative Council (SAC) has blocked thousands of websites, raised the internet costs, and banned VPNs, making it difficult for people to access information and mobilise online. Many young people in Myanmar use multiple VPNs, despite the risk of arrest, as accessing the internet without them is nearly impossible. The situation has worsened with Facebook’s policy changes on social and political content and the VPN ban. Lin avoids phone calls due to surveillance concerns and uses encrypted applications like Signal; he is constantly worried about his location being traced and exposed. He concluded his speech saying that dictators will relentlessly impose oppression, using brutal methods and committing crimes against humanity to protect their power until the very end. However, he affirmed that the resistance will continue to fight until it prevails. Digital repression in Myanmar At the panel, the MIP highlighted the extensive military surveillance both before and after the 2021 military coup. Social media platforms like Facebook were weaponised to spread hate speech, disinformation and propaganda, targeting the Rohingya and other minority groups in Myanmar. Prolonged internet shutdowns occurred in the western regions where the Myanmar military and the ethnic army clashed. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the government amended the Electronic Transactions Law and later, during the pandemic, citing the spread of fake news, it blocked over 200 websites, including ethnic and mainstream media sites. It also drafted a cybersecurity law claiming to protect citizens’ privacy and security. Under the guise of the smart city project, the government installed CCTVs across major cities, supposedly for traffic control. Additionally, it acquired digital surveillance tools for use by special police forces and cyber police, as documented in government budget files. For example, Cellebrite software was used to investigate political https://www.apc.org/node/40396 Page 4 of 10