or the use of Telegram (most widely) and then Signal, for communication with peers. A technical understanding of why and how some applications and platforms were more, or less, secure than others was not explored, however there was an indication that this was minimal and based on what they had read or been told my peers was safer. One male participant described using a VPN and putting their phones “on airplane mode, in case this could prevent their phones being tracked, as the only precaution that was taken (FGD_06). Another, described a series of steps before and after each phone call, involving moving to a public place (shopping mall, to make it difficult to track his person among a crowd) entering a battery and a new sim into a phone (recognizing that even if his phone is off, as long as the battery is in it can be traced), identifying CCTV locations (and how to avoid falling within their field of vision) and only then making the call. This would be followed by taking out the battery and throwing away the sim card (to avoid being associated with a number which can then be tapped into). (KII_03) It could be said that of the respondents interviewed, those working as journalists and/or channeling funding to PDF described the most precautions being taken, while youth CSO members, students, and wider youth population took only basic precautions, to varying degrees over the months following February 2021. While it is clear that precautions vary from person to person and the nature of their work, it is also evident that for some youth, even those involved in anti-coup activity, a laxer attitude towards digital safety is being shaped in recent months as a result of what is perceived as ‘random’ violence and a loss of faith in being able to ever protect themselves fully; “Personally, images on my as well, but care anymore I have sensitive laptop and cloud I do not really at this point. […] Even if you’re not doing anything wrong you can get caught and get killed on the road, so I can just be here waiting for the bus and, they will kidnap or detain or torture you anyway, and if they don’t get what they want they will threaten your family. At this point nobody is safe, I store things in the cloud, or I don’t care at this point. Everyone is not safe here.” (FGD_06) (Male) “For me, I don’t normally give a lot of attention to digital safety because if the hacker really wants to hack my account they can do it, so I don’t bother really that much.” (FGD_01) “At this point there is danger at any point, and anything can happen to you by chance […] It can happen pretty much at random, which is why there is such a fear even if you are not doing anything and have kept yourself free of any images (on your devices). There is a danger that you don’t know if it’s going to come to you, you just have to deal with it.” (FGD_05) Despite this, most participants avoid using Facebook messenger or talking openly on regular phone calls unless they are using foreign sim cards, and practice regular online ‘vetting’ of their followers and friends, as well as reporting any suspicious activity to each other. 4.3.2 Access to Information To date, 11 media houses have been either charged under Section 505 (a) of Myanmar’s penal code, had their licenses revoked, or both (Reporting ASEAN, 2021). Reporters who continue to report for these outlets risk especially severe punishments if discovered by authorities. The use of Article 505(a) (in its broadened scope since the coup) has in effect criminalized independent journalism, arresting, and charging journalists, restricting access for international reporters, and driving journalists into hiding, or exile. Within a few months of the February military coup, the country has become one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2021). “Everything has changed since the coup. Starting from covering the news, we’re not able to cover and report on the ground, journalists have been arrested and jailed while working on the ground. Mostly we were working from home, somewhere in hiding, some of us fled the country and ran to a safer place. Work has had to go into the shadows. It’s become unlawful work, even if it’s technically lawful work – we are regarded as criminals. We cannot work freely, go out freely, fear is installed in us in our work and daily life. (KII_03) 29