iMAP Myanmar 2023 Internet Censorship Report | Page 19 Surveillance Following the two-year coup, the military uses multiple approaches to enhance their authority by forcing biometric SIM-card registration,52 hacking,53 and heavy public inspection, and additional laws and regulations with heavy punishment have increased its surveillance significantly. On 19 September 2022, the Department of Post and Telecommunications under the junta’s Ministry of Transport and Communications announced that any citizen who fails to register their SIM card accurately with their Citizenship Scrutiny Card numbers, will have their SIM card cancelled.54 The military regime is trying to inspect the anti-junta and enhance its surveillance, analysts said.55 In addition, the ruling military has conducted extensive public inspections, threatening people who own digital tools. According to Soe Myint, the Managing Director of Mizzima Media Group in Myanmar, digital devices can be investigated and threatened any time in areas controlled by the SAC.56 Furthermore, those found using VPNs and engaging with any news or content related to anti-military junta could be detained.57 Internet outages Following the coup, the ruling military frequently shut down internet access across the state and region.58 Since August 2021, 31 townships across seven regions and states have reportedly experienced internet shutdowns.59 Furthermore, the UN reports that in June 2022, 23 townships experienced the throttling of internet speeds.60 Since the coup, Internet connectivity disruptions frequently occur across several states and regions, especially in the conflict zones. 52 Myanmar National Portal. (2022, Septermber 20). Statement on systematic purchases and registration of SIM cards. Ministry of Information.https://myanmar.gov.mm/news-media/news/latest-news/-/asset_publisher/idasset354/content/statement-on-system atic-purchases-and-registration-of-sim-cards 53 The New York Times. (2021, March 1). Myanmar’s Military Deploys Digital Arsenal of Repression in Crackdown. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/world/asia/myanmar-coup-military-surveillance.html 54 Myanmar National Portal. (2022, Septermber 20). Statement on systematic purchases and registration of SIM cards. Ministry of Information. https://myanmar.gov.mm/news-media/news/latest-news/-/asset_publisher/idasset354/content/statement-on-systematic-purchas es-and-registration-of-sim-cards 55 RFA Burmese. (2022, October 3). Myanmar activists say junta will use SIM card registration to target opposition. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/simcards-10032022211504.html 56 The International Press Institute. (2023, February 7). Two years after the coup: Media and democracy in Myanmar. The International Press Institute. https://ipi.media/events/two-years-after-the-coup-media-and-democracy-in-myanmar-feb-7-2023/ 57 Lehmann-Jacobsen, E., & Myat The Thitsar. (2022). “News is life and death to us” Understanding media audiences in post-coup Myanmar. International Media Support. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from https://www.mediasupport.org/publication/news-is-life-and-death-to-us-understanding-media-audiences-in-post-coup-myanmar/ 58 Access Now. (2022, March 18). internet access, censorship, and the Myanmar coup. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/update-internet-access-censorship-myanmar/ 59 United Nations. (2022, June 7). Myanmar: UN experts condemn military’s “digital dictatorship”. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/06/myanmar-un-experts-condemn-militarys-digital-dictatorship 60 United Nations. (2022, June 7). Myanmar: UN experts condemn military’s “digital dictatorship”. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/06/myanmar-un-experts-condemn-militarys-digital-dictatorship