Disinformation as a weapon in Myanmar
Submission to the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the impact of disinformation on
the enjoyment and realization of human rights – February 2025
Disinformation in Myanmar is a deliberate, State-sponsored strategy designed to control
narratives, silence dissent, and undermine human rights. This report, prepared by Human
Rights Myanmar for the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (Human Rights Council
Resolution 55/10) investigates the methods of these disinformation campaigns, their impact on
human rights, the harms caused by counter-measures, and the role of private actors such as
social media companies.
Unmasking Myanmar’s disinformation channels
Disinformation in Myanmar is spread through a network of State-controlled broadcasters,
newspapers, and their online representation, as well as military-aligned proxies. The military
tightly controls these channels, using them to manipulate public perceptions.
Information Ops
The military has built a sophisticated information ops unit—comprising a psychological warfare
department, covert agencies, and thousands of soldiers tasked with disinformation. 1 This effort
is supported by a quasi-civilian state infrastructure, including the Ministry of Information and
its nationwide offices.
The State media puppets of propaganda
Myanmar’s State-controlled broadcasters and newspapers, such as MRTV, Myawaddy TV, and
publications like the Mirror, are central to the regime’s disinformation strategy. They regularly
air and print fabricated narratives that portray the military as guardians of stability while
branding dissent as “terrorism”. Following the 2021 coup, the systematic shutdown of
independent media has ensured that state-run outlets dominate, particularly in rural
communities where access to alternative sources has been eliminated.
State narratives on social platforms
The military extends its control into the digital space by operating on platforms like Facebook,
Telegram, YouTube, and TikTok. Even as international platforms intermittently ban military1
Free Expression Myanmar (2022), “UN submission on military propaganda and disinformation”.