Branch agents, and mostly at night. It has been reported that these inspections were used as an opportunity to monitor, harass or arrest political activists and inspections increased during the pro-democracy uprisings in 1988, 1998 and 2007. 371 In addition to intelligence agencies, a wide network of informants attached to various official groups operated throughout the country. A 2007 Human Rights Watch report stated that this group of informants systematically began to track down activists and organisers of the 2007 protest movement, often known as ‘the Saffron Revolution’. 372 Telecommunications surveillance As early as 1990, reports surfaced that telephone calls and faxes were being monitored. A computer centre was reportedly set up which carried out more “politically focused” intelligence gathering, including monitoring communications of opposition groups both within and outside Myanmar. 373 This timing coincided with exiles fleeing the country in the wake of the 1988 crackdown on the pro-democracy movement and setting up exile media groups, newsletters and websites to report on the situation inside Myanmar. It has also been suggested that wiretapping of phone conversations was common, in particular to identify leaders of activist movements. Once leaders had been identified, this would be followed up with a night-time “inspection”. 374 Online surveillance Despite Myanmar’s low Internet penetration, the Internet and its users were reportedly under near constant surveillance as the first Internet connections were established around the year 2000. For citizens wanting an email account, the only choice was to pay for an email account supplied by Myanma Post and Telecommunications (MPT), a state run telecommunications company. Users assumed these accounts were closely monitored. However, it is difficult to establish exactly what technology enabling online surveillance was purchased and utilised by the government. 375 371 Fortify Rights, “Midnight Intrusions: Ending Guest Registration and Household Inspections in Myanmar“ (2015), pg 12. 372 A 2007 Human Rights Watch report found the local ward Peace and Development Councils, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (a movement supporting the military government, disbanded in 2010) and Swan Arr Shin (a local paramilitary group) all contributed informants who conducted surveillance activities and gathered intelligence. Human Rights Watch, “Crackdown. Repression of the 2007 Popular Protests in Burma” (2007), pg. 83. 373 Brian McCartan, “Myanmar on the Cyber-Offensive“ Asia Times (1 October 2008). 374 Fortify Rights, “Midnight Intrusions: Ending Guest Registration and Household Inspections in Myanmar“ (2015) pg. 31. 375 See for example: Joe Havely, “When States Go To Cyber-War“ BBC News Online (16 February 2000). The BBC reported that the government had acquired surveillance capabilities by borrowing equipment from other countries: “Using monitoring equipment loaned by the government of Singapore, analysts say the junta has been able to track online critics of the regime.” A 2005 Open Net Initiative report on internet filtering in Myanmar also mentions online surveillance, reporting that the state “maintains the capability to conduct surveillance of communication methods such as email…” Open Net Initiative, “Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study“ (2005), pg. 4. A 2007 Berkman report stated that the military government was buying surveillance technology from an un-named U.S company. Chowdhury, M. Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University, “The Role of the Internet in Burma’s Saffron Revolution” (2008) pg. 13. CHAPTER 4.4: SURVEILLANCE – LAWFUL INTERCEPTION & OTHER SURVEILLANCE METHODS 171 4 4.4