Internet Access Amid Darkness and Lives Amid Threats You’re not connected Chapter 6 Recommendations • • • • According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which says, "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers", internet freedom is a fundamental human right and seeking, receiving and imparting information through the internet is intrinsic freedom. Ergo, restrictions and violations must be stopped. International and regional organisations should prioritise more effective and faster ways by which they can send the essential support to the people and the local people in internet blackout areas regularly gain information access. Telecommunications service providers must comply with international standards in shutting down the internet and maintaining the personal information of the customers. National Unity Government (NUG) should urge telecommunication companies in Myanmar to follow international standards on human rights and international regulations in a constructive way. Research Methodology This research report is based on the answers of local residents interviewed by Athan and news reports gathered from 48 online media outlets in the context of egregious human rights violations by the brutal military junta under the cover of internet and mobile phone connection blackouts in some parts of the country to sever the information flow after the military coup. We contacted and interviewed a total of 15 people from the areas where internet access has been cut – four residents of Magway Region's Gangaw township, three residents of Kayah State's Demoso township, three from Sagaing Region's Khin-U township, Kalay township, and Yinmabin township, three from Kachin State's Hpakant township and Puta-O township, and two from Shan State's Hpe Khon. Research Challenges The main challenge to this research is contacting local residents of the areas under internet blackout to amass data. Due to the heavy fighting and the difficult time for travel, it was not possible to go to these areas to conduct inquiries and investigations in person. In terms of field data collection, the in-person interview was conducted only one time and most interviews were conducted via local mobile phone connections and online platforms. The internet blackout, deliberately issued by the brutal military, imposed many challenges in engaging the residents online. For instance, only 15 of 30 potential interviewees from the States and Regions with internet access were cut; appointments were repeatedly postponed due to the poor internet connection on the participants' side, and some were never reached out again. In some cases, the 23