iMAP Myanmar 2023 Internet Censorship Report | Page 15 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens (2017,20 amended 202021) Right to Information Bill (2016)22 Myanmar Penal Code (1861)23 Broadcast Law (2015, amend 202124) Official Secrets Act (1923)25 Citizens Privacy and Security Protection Law (2017)26 New Media Law (2014)27 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law (2011,28 amended 2014,29 and 201630) While information restrictions in Myanmar are not unusual, they have been formalised and integrated into the legal system through numerous amendments to the criminal laws31. Since the coup, a few existing laws have been amended including the Penal Code and Electronic Transactions Law and suspended sections 5, 7, and 8 of the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens. A new Cybersecurity Bill has also been drafted. Largely exercised since the coup, these laws affect the freedom of expression. Constitution of the Republic of Myanmar (2008) Among the rights, the 2008 constitution32 somewhat guarantees all citizens the right to freedom of expression under Articles 354 and 365. However, the constitution does not fully protect the right to freedom of expression, and Articles 35433 (liberty of expression and publication) and 36534 (freedom of artistic expression) do not comply with international standards. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch has stated that it threatens the freedom of expression for journalists and human rights defenders.35 20 Law Protection of the Citizen for the Personal Freedom and Personal Security. (2017). https://myanmar-law-library.org/law-library/laws-and-regulations/laws/myanmar-laws-1988-until-now/national-league-for-democr acy-2016/myanmar-laws-2017/pyidaungsu-hluttaw-law-noo5-2017-protection-of-the-citizen-for-the-personal.html 21 Law Protection of the Citizen for Personal Freedom and Personal Security 2017, Amendment. (2020). https://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/pdf/Law-Protecting-Privacy-and-Security-of-Citizens_en_unofficial.pdf 22 Right to Information Bill. (2016). https://freeexpressionmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Right-to-information-bill-EN.pdf 23 The Penal Code. (1861). https://freeexpressionmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/penal-code.pdf 24 Broadcasting Law 2015, Amendment. (2021). https://myanmar-law-library.org/law-library/laws-and-regulations/laws/myanmar-laws-1988-until-now/state-administration-council -2021/myanmar-laws-2021/state-administration-council-law-no-63-2021-second-amendment-law-to-the.html 25 Official Secrets Act. (1923). https://www.icnl.org/wp-content/uploads/Myanmar_secrets.pdf 26 Law Protection of the Citizen for Personal Freedom and Personal Security 2017, Amendment. (2020). https://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/pdf/Law-Protecting-Privacy-and-Security-of-Citizens_en_unofficial.pdf 27 Media Law. (2014). https://freeexpressionmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/News-Media-Law-EN.pdf 28 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. (2011). https://freeexpressionmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Peaceful-Assembly-and-Peaceful-Procession-Law-EN.pdf 29 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. (2014). https://freeexpressionmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Peaceful-Assembly-and-Peaceful-Procession-Law-Amendmen t-2014-EN.pdf 30 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. (2016). https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/108183/133587/F-1886991084/MMR108183%20Bur.pdf 31 Das, O. P. (2023, July 14). The media landscape in Myanmar: A post-coup analysis. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. https://idsa.in/issuebrief/the-media-landscape-in-myanmar-opdas-140723 32 Myanmar. Const. 2008. 33 Myanmar. Const. 2008. 34 Myanmar. Const. 2008. 35 Human Rights Watch. (2019, April 11). Myanmar: Guarantee the right to free expression in the constitution. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/11/myanmar-guarantee-right-free-expression-constitution