Technology: Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar
As one interviewee said, ‘Women are less likely than men to own a phone and they
tend to use shared devices, so it restricts their opportunities to develop their digital
security awareness. People with disabilities are not always equipped with smartphones.
Some only have keypad phones or lower quality handsets which cannot download the
Zoom application, so they can’t access digital security courses.’(KII_09, a woman from a
women’s rights network). Another asserted, ‘Not every woman is able to make personal
digital security changes such as setting strong passwords and locking Facebook profiles.
Following the coup, more people become aware of digital security, but the training
and awareness-raising initiatives have limitations in community reach. There has been
a shortage in the number of digital security specialists and the available workforce is
not keeping pace with the demand which has led to burnout.’ (KII_08, a woman digital
rights activist and privacy advocate)
3.4.3. Online attacks on women before and after February 2021
After the 2021 coup, a number of pro-military Telegram channels conducted online
attacks targeting women. The two screenshots below are evidence of such attacks on
two of Myanmar’s famous women artists who are supporting the struggle against the
military dictatorship.
Image 1:
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Online attack by SAC lobbyist Han Nyein Oo on Model/ Actress Htar Htet
Htet and singer Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein on 16 January 2023