FREEDOM ON THE NET 2016 MYANMAR Limits on Content During the coverage period, both military and self-styled pro-democracy activists actively pressured online media practitioners and outlets they perceived as critical, keeping levels of self-censorship high. Tactics included reporting rival Facebook users for violating the site’s community standards, resulting in their accounts being temporarily disabled, and manipulative political commentary. While digital content was not subject to censorship, sensitive political and social topics were nevertheless underrepresented online. Blocking and Filtering The government lifted systematic state censorship of traditional and electronic media in 2012. Since then, political content appeared to be almost universally available, and even social content, such as pornography, was not blocked as of mid-2016. Content Removal While new readers are more likely to encounter a range of content than they were in the past, authorities have made a concerted effort to exclude certain topics from mainstream discourse in ways that lack transparency and due process. Notably, since censorship was officially lifted the military has pressured individuals and media outlets to remove posts or images perceived to hurt the public image of the armed forces. Content subject to prosecution is also generally removed (see “Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities”). In a phenomenon seen for the first time during the coverage period, Facebook users misused the mechanism for reporting offensive content in order to disable rival pages. Activists with different political agendas organized to report their opponents for violating Facebook’s community standards, resulting in specific accounts or pages being temporarily removed while the owner appealed to have them reinstated. Some prominent examples were apparently carried out by NLD supporters. A cartoonist who uses the penname Maung Maung Fountain had his account briefly shut down in January 2016 after he shared a cartoon that made fun of Aung San Suu Kyi’s inconsistencies. Unknown people had reported him to Facebook for violating a requirement that users identify themselves by name they use in everyday life.30 Dr. Than Htut Aung, CEO of the Eleven Media Group, said that his Facebook account was temporarily disabled in January using the same process after he criticized a top NLD leader’s handling of the media.31 The Eleven Media Group had generally advocated for the NLD when it was in the opposition. Media, Diversity, and Content Manipulation Self-censorship with regard to military and related issues is common online, especially after military officials issued warnings in response to news articles and cartoons they said harmed the dignity and Nyan Lynn Aung, “Facebook unblocks cartoonist’s page,” Myanmar Times, January 14, 2016, http://www.mmtimes.com/ index.php/national-news/yangon/18473-facebook-unblocks-cartoonist-s-page.html. 30 31 Interview with Dr. Than Htut Aung, March 30, 2016 www.freedomonthenet.org