8/22/22, 10:18 PM Myanmar: Freedom on the Net 2019 Country Report | Freedom House 2017, the BBC announced that it would end its broadcasting partnership with MNTV after the network repeatedly pulled BBC programs for using “government restricted words,” which included the word “Rohingya,”according to some analysts. 122 In June 2018, Radio Free Asia (RFA) cancelled its partnership with the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) after the government repeatedly attempted to censor the word “Rohingya” on state television. 123 RFA, however, reported that it would still cover Myanmar on social media. 124 During the reporting period, the most-visited websites in Myanmar were Google, YouTube, and Facebook. 125 However, few people use internet browsers, with most users preferring Facebook apps on their mobile phones. The most popular Facebook pages were all run by media outlets, some of which were foreign and none of which were state-controlled. 126 B8 0-6 pts Do conditions impede users’ ability to mobilize, form communities, and campaign, particularly on political and social issues? 4/6 Online tools used to assemble and mobilize remain freely available. Individuals continued to use the internet for activism, some of which has been successful. Many within civil society regard Facebook as the best tool, and more effective than the mainstream media, to raise awareness about their concerns and prompt a government response. Their efforts have been constrained during the reporting period, however, as Facebook’s restrictions on ethnic armed organizations, the military, and ultranationalist groups have impacted public discourse (see B2 and B3). A number of online campaigns occurred during the coverage period. When the military leader Min Aung Hlaing, claimed in July 2018 that the military was more representative of the people than the elected government, a public outcry swept Facebook with the slogan, “The military doesn’t represent me!” 127 After Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were convicted in September 2018, Facebook profile pictures were replaced with black spots, representing blacked-out websites, and #ArrestMeToo trended on Twitter and Facebook. 128 In another example, the 2017 #SayNOto66d campaign 129 expanded in late 2018 to focus on decriminalizing defamation altogether. 130 Some of the most significant online activism has been in response to the plight of the Rohingya. ProRohingya digital activists have used social media to strengthen networks within the Rohingya community, including among the diaspora, while simultaneously reaching out to other supporters. 131 Social media has been invaluable for sharing videos, photos, and testimonies of sexual violence, looting, torture, and murder, 132 which mainstream media outlets have largely ignored. C. Violations of User Rights Criminalization of internet users persisted, including under several criminal defamation laws, while the government has hinted that a draft cybersecurity law could contain provisions punishing online criticism of the government. Intimidation of users remains common, through online surveillance carried out by the government and military, as well as harassment against those reporting on or discussing conflicts in Rakhine, Shan, and Kachin states online, in addition to users discussing gender and other so-called “sensitive” issues. https://freedomhouse.org/country/myanmar/freedom-net/2019 11/20