Military propaganda and institutionalisation of disinformation While the regime is actively replacing independent news with its own propaganda machine to hide its human rights abuses, state-run outlets like MRTV, Myawaddy, and The Global New Light of Myanmar are being used to push the regime’s narrative. Independent journalists and civil society groups are branded as terrorists. To back this up, the military supports a network of pro-regime online influencers and Telegram channels. These groups are used to spread fake news, launch personal threats against independent reporters, and justify the military’s violence against civilians. In the meantime, China is actively trying to influence the news environment by targeting struggling independent media outlets. Because major Western donors have cut their financial support, local newsrooms are desperate for cash. The establishment of the inter-ministerial “Information Sheet” team - led by the Deputy Minister of Defence and drawing from Military Intelligence, Psychological Warfare, and Cyber Security divisions – demonstrates that the junta views the information space as a critical frontline. Despite holding recent elections to rebrand his rule as a “civilian” government, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has done nothing to improve press freedom. Instead, the establishment of the inter-ministerial “Information Sheet” team - led by the Deputy Minister of Defence and drawing from Military Intelligence, Psychological Warfare, and Cyber Security divisions – demonstrates that the junta views the information space as a critical frontline. The regime also created the Presidential Press and Information Bureau (PPIB) and appointed Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population Dr. Khaing Khaing Soe as the presidential spokesperson - the first woman to hold the position. The announcement came Update on Journalism and Media Safety in Myanmar 12