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Technology: Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar Facebook Pages and Groups 80.57% Telegram Channel and Groups 58.86% State-controlled Media 8.57% 38.29% Family and Friend 57.71% Websites News Agency (with News Ethics) 65.71% Colleagues 0.57% Youtube 0.57% Twitter 0.57% 0.00% 25.00% 50.00% 75.00% 100.00% Figure 8: Sources of information According to a study conducted by International Media Support (IMS) in 2022 that provides insights into the media habits of the population of Myanmar following the coup, “trust in the state-owned and military-controlled media has particularly gone down. While trust in these media was also rather low in the 2018 study [of the same organization], there is not almost no one who will even admit to consuming these media.” This corresponds to our findings of limited interest by respondents in news coverage by state-controlled media. 3.2.1. Perception of access to information after February 2021 Three-quarters of respondents believed that access to information has worsened significantly, and 18.13% that it had become slightly worse since the coup. Only 2.3% of respondents believed that access to information had improved. 32

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“Technology: Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar” Research

Report

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Language

English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Information Operation
Internet Connectivity / Accessibility
Internet Restrictions
Military Coup

Author(s)

Gender Equality Network (GEN)
Myanmar Internet Project (MIP)

Date Published: Apr 2, 2024

Abstract: This study on “Technology: Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar” serves as an introductory overview of the implications of the military’s digital repression on women’s rights and gender equality in Myanmar, while acknowledging and measuring the benefits ICTs have brought for women and women’s rights organizations in the country. Quantitative and qualitative data collection for the study was undertaken in February 2023 through an online survey and key informant interviews (KIIs). The survey was conducted via Google Forms and utilized the Convenience Sampling Method and Snowball Sampling Method to mitigate the security risks imposed on the participants - a total of 175 individuals. Twelve people working on women’s rights and digital rights in various capacities were interviewed for the KIIs to ensure a comprehensive range of perspectives.

The study’s main findings revealed that

i) there is a gender gap in mobile phone ownership and internet use;

ii) women from lower income households, women belonging to ethnic minorities and women from conflict-affected areas are at particular risk of digital exclusion;

(iii) ICTs have the potential to greatly enhance women’s rights organizations ability to create new values and to shape meanings, internalized beliefs and social norms;

iv) the military’s digital control exacerbates the risks of gender-based violence and disrupts women’s access to accurate and trustworthy information and life-saving services.

The study highlighted concerns about the impact of the junta’s violent campaign of terror against the pro-democracy movement as it stifles the voices of women online and reinforces a culture of fear and silence, perpetuates self-censorship, and reduces women’s political participation in digital spaces. Women human rights defenders and other activists depend on digital platforms for solidarity, networking and mobilization, hence online attacks mean they must find ways to mitigate digital risks to continue their work.

A series of recommendations are included in the study to facilitate the advocacy of the international community, donor agencies, telecommunications and technology companies operating in Myanmar and the democratically-elected government. The recommendations emphasize the need to pressure the military junta to immediately end internet and telecommunications shutdowns and to hold platforms accountable to minimize digital harms for women and girls in Myanmar.

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Technology - Friend or Foe for Women of Myanmar.pdf
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