CCTV systems in Myanmar Back to contents 51 mandated Naung Yoe Technologies and Linn IT Solution, two companies founded by former military generals, to implement CCTV installation. Naung Yoe Technologies is also known for helping the military during military rule before 2011.99 In 2014, a leaked email revealed that Naung Yoe Technologies sent enquiries to the Italian surveillance malware vendor Hacking Team, expressing interest in an interception system for mobile devices on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.100 The structural construction and implementation of the system influences how it will be used and can present weaknesses which can be abused. These companies can decide on the infrastructure where certain entities could be allowed to gain access to sensitive personal data of political dissidents, protesters, and other individuals and communities deemed to be troublesome to the military, with or without public awareness. Another company that Myanmar authorities have historically selected to implement CCTV systems is MySpace International, a company led by exmilitary officers. MySpace International handled the purchase of Cellebrite – the notorious mobile data extraction tool, also known as a mobile device forensic tool – that has been used by governments around the world, including in Myanmar, to target human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.101 For instance, Cellebrite was used by the Myanmar police against two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who reported on atrocities against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority. They were sentenced to seven years for violating the Official Secrets Act (1923) using the information extracted from their mobile phones.102 Government agencies increasingly rely on technology companies to assist in the acquisition of sensitive technologies or equipment. FISCA was also another company found to be implementing CCTV systems.103 After the military coup, the junta pushed to implement the same project in Mawlamyine, where the military-tied companies Naung Yoe Technologies and FISCA, who oversaw the installation in Naypyidaw and Yangon, respectively, were permitted to implement the project.104 From our analysis, regardless of the procurement process used, the same outcome (using Huawei equipment) was reached and was ultimately deployed irrespective of the implementing company. Furthermore, it makes

Select target paragraph3