Joint statement: Myanmar must lift internet restrictions following
devastating earthquake
Monday March 31, 2025
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the Myanmar military for
continuing to impose communication blackouts, including internet shutdowns, following
Myanmar’s worst earthquake in history. We call for restrictions on internet services, including
social media platforms and news media websites, to be immediately lifted.
n March 28, 2025, Myanmar experienced a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, the strongest ever
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recorded in the country’s history, impacting at least 67 townships. The epicenter was in Sagaing
city, near Mandalay, the central part of the country. The most affected areas include Sagaing,
Mandalay, and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw. The death toll has risen to more than 2,000 as
of March 31 and continues to climb.
However, despite this dire situation and the urgent need for emergency rescue efforts to save
those trapped under the rubble, as of this announcement — more than 48 hours after the
earthquake — the Myanmar military has still not lifted its internet shutdown orders and various
internet restrictions, which are essential for coordinating live-saving emergency responses.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Myanmar military’s ongoing crackdown on
communication services following such a devastating disaster, showing a blatant disregard for
the threat imposed on civilian lives. We demand the immediate and unconditional restoration of
internet and communications services to ensure full access, as well as the lifting of any
restrictions on people’s rights to information. We call on the military to be held accountable for
all loss of life and suffering caused by these various internet restrictions.
Since they took power four years ago, the junta has proved itself to be one of the world’s worst
abusers of digital repressions. Based on the data collected by Myanmar digital rights groups,
the military’s internet shutdowns orders have impacted over 100 townships, representing almost
a third of the country, including the areas most severely affected by the recent earthquake. In
addition, the “firewall” system installed by the junta in 2024 continues to block access to all
major social media, news sites and other public information sources, even restricting the use of
VPNs. This forces people to search for open VPNs, even in this dire moment. Combined with
power outages and damage to telecommunications infrastructure caused by the earthquake,
people in Myanmar are facing unprecedented communications disruptions. Moreover, the
various restrictions imposed on people’s access to information since 2021, including revoking
newspapers licenses, blocking many news websites, arresting and killing journalists, are now
obstructing real-time information on the earthquake’s impact, delaying rescue efforts and
contributing to preventable deaths.