Digitalizing Myanmar: Connectivity Developments in Political Transitions – Andrea Calderaro and training initiatives (e.g. Hackathons), Ooredoo aims to support the development of projects from the bottom up. Telenor, on the other hand, is targeting rural areas, supporting initiatives that aim to overcome more traditional forms of digital divide. b) Connectivity Development and Human Rights The development of a digital communication infrastructure also raises some concerns about whether the country’s connectivity building will respect human rights, notably the freedom of expression and right to privacy. Over the coming years, Ooredoo and Telenor will face the challenge of convincingly demonstrating their corporate social responsibility. The 2013 Human Rights Watch report “Reforming Telecommunications in Burma: Human Rights and Responsible Investment in Mobile and the Internet” 8 called for careful evaluation of the Myanmar’s telecommunication policy development and of the potential consequences of telecom development on digital freedoms. Additionally, in the context of internet governance, private companies are often heralded as having a positive influence on regulations that support online freedoms. Myanmar’s current telecom situation, in which international companies are developing connectivity infrastructure while the country develops relevant laws and regulations, is a key case and an important process to be followed carefully. According to both the “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” 9 and the EU Commission’s “ICT Sector Guide on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” 10 to prove their corporate social responsibility, telecom operators must create a public social responsibility policy that includes their commitment to respecting human rights. Ooredoo currently has neither a clear policy on corporate social responsibility related to freedom of 8 Human Rights Watch, 2013. Reforming Telecommunications in Burma: Human Rights and Responsible Investment in Mobile and the Internet. New York, NY: Human Rights Watch. Available at: http://www.hrw.org/node/115497 9 United Nations, 2011. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, New York, NY: United Nations. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf 10 EU Commission, 2013. ICT Sector Guide on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Brussels: EU Commission. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/files/csr-sme/csr-ict-hr-business_en.pdf 8