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MAY 2013 ISBN: 978-1-62313-0121 Reforming Telecommunications in Burma Human Rights and Responsible Investment in Mobile and the Internet Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 4 To Burma’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Parliament .........4 To ICT and Telecommunications Companies Considering Investment in Burma.................... 5 To the Governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, and Other Home Governments of International Telecommunications Firms Bidding for a License in Burma .... 5 Background........................................................................................................................ 7 Critical Legal Reforms .......................................................................................................10 Existing ICT Laws .................................................................................................................... 10 Proposed Telecommunications Law ........................................................................................ 12 Responsibilities of Companies Seeking to Enter Burma’s Mobile and Internet Sectors ....... 15 Due Diligence and Human Rights Risk Assessment.................................................................. 17 Government Requests for Censorship, Surveillance, and Network Shutdowns ......................... 18 Transparency and Monitoring ................................................................................................. 19 Risks of Joint Ventures and Other Business Partnerships ........................................................ 20 Land Rights and Security ........................................................................................................ 21 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 23 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ 24

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Reforming Telecommunications in Burma

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Language

English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Internet Connectivity / Accessibility

Author(s)

Human Rights Watch

Date Published: May 19, 2013

Abstract: In January 2013, the Burmese government opened the country’s telecommunications sector to foreign investment, promising toincrease the availability of affordable mobile phones in Burma. Yet the government’s human rights reforms, including reformsin the internet and telecommunications sectors, so far have been incomplete and inadequate. New digital technologies canbecome powerful tools for censorship and illegal surveillance, absent protections for rights. In this context, internationaltechnology companies risk being linked to abuses if they enter the Burmese market without human rights safeguards and beforeadequate legal protections are in place. Reforming Telecommunications in Burmaanalyzes the current state of legal reform for the Internet and mobile sectors. Harshlaws enacted by the former military government, which were used to limit access to technology and prosecute dissidents fortheir online activity, remain in place. The use of these laws has significantly diminished since the end of direct military rule.However, as long as they remain in force, there is risk that the government can selectively enforce those laws to silence bloggersand activists, and seek the aid of technology companies to do so. This report outlines steps necessary to promote adequate protections for Internet and mobile phone users in Burma, and theactions needed to foster responsible investment in Burma’s telecommunications and Internet sectors. Human Rights Watchcalls on the government to repeal existing draconian laws and enact new legislation for these sectors that protects basic rights.Technology companies entering Burma should adopt human rights safeguards and address harms linked to their operations.

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Reforming Telecommunications in Burma

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