Technology: Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar Additionally, interviewees considered it highly likely that the risks of domestic violence and intimate partner violence would increase, especially in border area settlements and internally displaced person (IDP) camps, and that the insecurity across the country would limit women’s freedom of movement and their access to GBV support services. Some women’s rights organizations and GBV service providers have formulated alternative digital strategies to combat GBV by delivering services through a helpline or online, and by creating Facebook pages to share knowledge and information on available services. Some of them have also expanded their remote service delivery to other applications such as Viber, Signal and Telegram. These information channels, helplines and online support services have been a crucial lifeline for many GBV survivors. However, internet blockages, price increases and surveillance disrupt these service interventions and referral to life-saving assistance. “The military takeover put a halt to progress towards gender equality and women’s leadership in our project areas. Moreover, the military forcing telecommunications operators to increase prices for data usage and phone calls significantly impacted the people who are already struggling with the financial crisis. These price hikes pose barriers to access to the GBV helpline for the GBV survivors.” (KII_09, a woman from a women’s rights network) “The majority of the helpline users who are seeking legal consultation for GBV cases are from big cities like Yangon and Mandalay, with an age range between 20 to 40. Since last year, we receive only a few calls from women from conflict-affected areas due to unstable and unsafe connectivity (internet and mobile phone network). In most cases, women in conflict zones drop the call and call back the helpline only when they get to safe places. Sometimes the helpline operators need to call back those who cannot afford to make a call. Some prefer using alternative communication channels, including Zoom since they do not trust mobile operators. Some resort to SMS when there is internet blockage, knowing that it is not safe even with code words.” (KII_10, a woman legal aid lawyer) 38