Summary In January 2013, the Burmese government announced plans to liberalize the country’s telecommunications sector and invited bids for two nationwide telecommunications licenses.1 Successful bidders will be allowed to provide a range of services, including mobile and Internet services.2 The Burmese government has promised to significantly reduce the cost of mobile phones and has set an ambitious goal of 50 percent mobile penetration by 2016, a remarkable increase from current penetration estimated at 5-10 percent.3 Human Rights Watch has long believed that Internet and mobile technologies have an enormous potential to advance human rights. Developing Burma’s information and communications technology (ICT) and telecommunications sectors could enhance economic growth and civic participation in a country that has been closed for decades. Email, social media, and cell phones have become essential tools for journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups worldwide because these technologies support instant communication, access to information, and effective organization on the ground. However, these benefits may be jeopardized unless governments and corporations safeguard the ability of people to use new technologies freely and without fear of reprisal. Improved telecommunications networks can become powerful tools for censorship and illegal surveillance, absent protections for human rights and other critical measures. Yet Burma’s democratic reforms remain incomplete and the government and its security forces continue to commit serious human rights violations.4 Companies entering Burma 1 See Telecommunication Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, “Invitation to Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Two Telecommunications Service Licences in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,” undated, http://www.mcit.gov.mm/sites/default/files/Expression_of_Interest.pdf (accessed April 8,2013). 2 Telecommunication Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, “Pre- qualification Questions and Answers,” March 21, 2013, www.mcit.gov.mm/sites/default/files/pre- qualification_qa_2new.pdf (accessed April 11, 2013), pp. 10, 46, 65. 3 The government initially set a goal of 80 percent penetration rate by 2016, but adjusted this goal to 50 percent in a May press conference. See Jeremy Wagstaff, “Mobile revolution in Myanmar is on the cards, but too slow for many,” Reuters, January 20, 2013, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-20/news/sns-rt-us-myanmar-telecomsbre90k01y20130120_1_mobile-penetration-mobile-telephony-mobile-revolution (accessed April 8, 2013); Justin Heifetz, "'Beauty contest’ for Myanmar’s telecoms bid," Mizzima, May 14, 2013, http://www.mizzima.com/business/investment/9392-beautycontest-for-myanmars-telecoms-bid.html (accessed May 14, 2013). 4 See “Burma: Rights Abuses Endanger Reform,” Human Rights Watch news release, February 1, 2013, http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/01/burma-rights-abuses-endanger-reform. 1 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | MAY 2013