This report examines the security practices of journalists working both within and outside Myanmar. Journalists must observe digital safety practices to continue reporting without appearing on the military’s radar. However, with military checkpoints abundant across the country, frequent night raids, and crowdsourced surveillance networks of pro-military informers present in most neighbourhoods, how do journalists work in digitally secure ways in militarycontrolled Myanmar? This research proposes that a universal ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to security does not exist. Security is contextual and highly dependent on locally determined social and cultural factors. Additionally, in the case of Myanmar, what secure practice means is constantly changing. The digital application that allows journalists to safely connect with a source today can be their downfall tomorrow when a soldier discovers it on their phone. The following sections outline the research problems and practical concerns that underpin our study, setting the context with an overview of the Myanmar media landscape. We then detail our methodological approach for research conducted under heightened security conditions. The findings in the report are split into four main areas: first, we assess the general atmosphere experienced by journalists in Myanmar; second, we explore how this atmosphere shapes their perceived threats and risks; third, we examine the security practices implemented by journalists; and finally, we offer a brief evaluation of the digital security support available to them thus far. The report concludes with a reflection on the challenges of safeguarding journalists’ safety and security in Myanmar and proposes recommendations for NGOs, international development agencies, digital security providers, and other stakeholders to enhance journalists’ digital security environment. 8

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