1/12/24, 11:44 AM Examining the Situation of Digital Repression in Myanmar in 2023 (4) Repression to Online Media Freedom After the 2021 coup, media outlets in Myanmar have been oppressed through various means, including revoking media licenses and arresting reporters. Most media outlets primarily relied on various social media platforms and websites to continue presenting the news. As media outlets endeavor to present news to the public from digital platforms, the SAC is also making efforts to suppress news sources that disseminate information through online platforms. On March 11, 2023, Chief editor of Rakhine-Base Narinjara News Agency who had been on the run and dodged to escape from SAC’s arrest, had had a lawsuit against him filed under the telecommunication law. On June 10, 2023, Ayeyarwaddy Times News Agency, one of the news outlets based in the Irrawaddy region, had its license revoked. On July 8, 2023, the Ministry of Information revealed that the SAC was preparing to file a lawsuit against the renowned media outlets, DVB and Mizzima news agencies, alleging that they were in arrears. Sai Zaw Thike, a photojournalist with Myanmar Now News Agency, was arrested on May 23 while documenting the situation in the Rakhine Region following the devastation caused by the Mokha Cyclone. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the SAC on September 6. On October 29,2023, The headquarters of the Development Media Group (DMG) based in Sittwe was raided by military council forces and reporter Htet Aung and an office guard Soe Win Aung were arrested. On December 5, 2023, the SAC released an announcement stating that individuals who liked and commented on news from Rakhine media outlets would be subject to arrest. Moreover, U Aung San Oo and U Myo Myint Oo, Myeik base reporters from Dawei Watch were arrested at their houses on December 12, 2013. Dewei Watch media outlet reported that they were detained because they are working as reporters, disclosed by SAC members to their family. On December 29th, the Ministry of Information (MoI) reported that the media license of Mekong News had been revoked, effective from December 24, 2023. After the coup, fifteen media outlets in Myanmar were revoked their media license. According to the World Press Freedom Index of RSF’s 2023 that was released on May 6, 2023, Myanmar ranked 173 th out of 180 countries and is one of the world's biggest jailers of journalists, second only to China. The highlighted event above clearly underscores the limitations and control on media freedom imposed by the SAC. Conclusion Based on the digital repression events that occurred in 2023, we can clearly understand SAC's social media surveillance efforts and attempts to limit freedom of expression.In 2023, SAC is actively striving to implement a mass surveillance program to monitor citizens. In conflict areas, SAC consistently employs mobile and internet shutdowns as a form of weaponization and it is relentlessly oppressing the media to control the information that occurred. https://www.myanmarinternet.info/post/blog_014-1 8/8