8.1. Recommendations • To align with its obligations under international human rights law, the military must immediately restore the public's right to freedom of expression and information. This requires an unconditional end to internet shutdowns and blocks, the repeal of data taxes, and the cessation of surveillance-driven criminalisation of journalism and circumvention tools. All journalists detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression must be released and compensated. • In accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), tech companies, including Facebook, should urgently audit and overhaul algorithmic frameworks that deprioritise verified news. Tech companies must ensure that algorithms do not “shadow-ban” or downrank independent media. • The international community and donors should prioritise flexible, longterm support for exile and local-level media outlets. Furthermore, rigorous sanctions should be applied against the technical infrastructure and entities responsible for orchestrating and facilitating the military’s digital repression. • Independent media and civil society may use these findings to optimise editorial and distribution strategies to counter algorithmic silos, fulfilling the aim to provide accurate information and uphold the audience's right to a pluralistic information environment under high surveillance. This project was delivered with the support of an international donor organisation that has chosen to remain anonymous for risk management purposes. Page 24 of 24