1. Background TikTok content. Among those arrested were Following the military coup, the Myanmar journalists. These arrests are regularly reported high-profile figures such as artists, actors, and military has made numerous efforts to control key social networks and online platforms critical to pro-democracy movements. These efforts in daily news and pro-military media outlets. 2. Analysis include internet shutdowns, blocking websites, and restricting access to popular platforms like Over the five years since the military coup, 2,029 Facebook to prevent public use. people have been arrested due to their online expression on social media or online On January 25, 2022, the State Administrative communications opposing the Myanmar military Council (SAC) announced that anyone inciting, and supporting pro-democracy movements and spreading propaganda, or making threats on resistance groups. social networks could be prosecuted under various laws, including Section 52(a) of the Analyzing the annual breakdown of arrests Anti-Terrorism Law, Section 124-A and Section reveals that 874 individuals were detained in 505-A of the Penal Code, and Section 33(a) of 2022, 614 in 2023, 375 in 2024, 140 in 2025, and the 26 in 2026 (as of the end of August). Electronic Communications Act. The Myanmar military also used state-run media to warn the public against playing "PDF Games" Number of Arrests by Year (games supporting resistance groups) and engaging in hate speech. Arrests related to online activities began in February 2022. The military not only monitors online posts but also conducts physical checks at security checkpoints, inspecting phones and arresting individuals based on their online content. Promilitary Telegram channels have also been used to gather and share personal information, pressuring and facilitating the arrests of online users for their posts. Initially, the focus was mainly on content posted on Facebook, the most widely used social media platform. However, by 2023 and 2024, the military expanded its surveillance to include In 2022, the year the arrests began, 874 individuals were taken into custody. Compared to that initial year, the annual number of arrests has steadily declined.