Chinese technology capable of mass surveillance 'installed' by Myanmar internet company funded by UK — Finance Uncovered 5/22/25, 11:56 AM But just a few weeks after Myanmar Net submitted its proposal, Telenor – one of the largest telecommunications companies operating in the country at the time – warned authorities intended to scrap such legal controls. In a December 2020 update, the Norwegian telecoms operator said[7] the government wanted to access ISPs’ systems directly, without needing case-by-case legal approval to intercept people’s data. “Without sufficient legal safeguards, this creates an opportunity for misuse and breach of customers’ human rights,” Telenor said. After the February 2021 military coup, any attempt to bring in legal safeguards to protect Myanmar’s citizens online were scrapped and the proposed lawful interception system was never built. Instead, the junta dramatically expanded its control over the internet, blocking websites, enforcing rolling blackouts and spying on users. Frontiir shut off the internet in the commercial hubs of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw on the military’s orders on the day of the coup. Since then, it has periodically blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter (now X) and Instagram, as well as independent media and civil society sites. A protestor issues a pro-democracy salute (Moe Oo/Myanmar Now) Surging profits The political upheaval appears to have made little difference to Frontiir’s profits. In an unprecedented insight into a leading Myanmar technology company, leaked financial statements obtained by reporters show the company’s profits after tax hit $7.1 million in the year ended September 2021, some $270,000 lower than the previous year. The following six months profits surged to $4.8 million after tax as the company rapidly added new subscribers, according to its accounts. The leaked accounts show that no dividends were paid out in the period covered, consistent with statements issued by Frontiir’s European state investors, BII, Norfund and IFU. https://www.financeuncovered.org/stories/british-norwegian-and-danis…litary-run-myanmar-which-hosts-notorious-chinese-surveillance-system Page 7 of 12