FREEDOM ON THE NET 2016 Myanmar 2015 2016 Population: Internet Freedom Status Not Free Not Free Internet Penetration 2015 (ITU): 22 percent Obstacles to Access (0-25) 18 17 Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: No Limits on Content (0-35) 17 17 Political/Social Content Blocked: No Violations of User Rights (0-40) 28 27 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes TOTAL* (0-100) 63 61 Press Freedom 2016 Status: 53.9 million Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2015 – May 2016 • Internet penetration topped 20 percent in 2015, up from less than 2 percent in 2013 (see Availability and Ease of Access). • Hackers targeted The Irrawaddy magazine’s Burmese-language website in the lead-up to the November 2015 elections, publishing a fake report about Aung San Suu Kyi’s health, though her National League for Democracy party won a parliamentary majority (see Technical Attacks). • Five people were detained for at least six months each under the 2013 Telecommunications Law in reprisal for online speech criticizing military or government officials; at least one trial was still pending under the new administration (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). ● Outgoing officials approved Vietnamese military-linked Viettel’s bid to enter the mobile telecommunications market in a joint venture with local firms and a subsidiary of military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation (see Availability and Ease of Access). ● Campaigners used social media to advance causes including constitutional reform, election monitoring, and humanitarian assistance to flood victims and refugees (see Digital Activism). www.freedomonthenet.org