Across the border in Myanmar, a Rohingya residing in Buthidaung Township also rejects the government’s justification. According to him: “I think the government is intentionally torturing the public. They are torturing the people by making them live with information blackout while giving excuse to fight against terrorism.”129 Given that the nexus between the internet shutdown and the conflict in Rakhine and Chin states is unique to Myanmar context, we will discuss it separately below and now turn our attention on how the internet shutdown has affected ethnic IDPs and refugees’ lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Pandemic The vast majority of our interviewees (11 of 16) explicitly spoke about the impacts of internet shutdowns in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This was one of the themes among the interviews where similar concerns resounded on both sides of the border, in Myanmar and in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. They are, in fact, concerns shared by communities all over the world as they face this novel and punishing disease—the need for: reliable sources of information about the progress of infections and countermeasures locally; science-based health education about what can be done to slow spread; and means to control widespread and inaccurate rumors that begin to circulate. Of course, the precarious situation of those who live in active conflict zones, under repressive regimes, and in crowded refugee camps may sharpen the bite of these concerns. Interviews with Rohingya in Bangladesh also pointed out issues particular to refugees in crowded camps, needing to keep in touch with faraway loved ones.130 Many of our interviewees—three from each side of the border—spoke to their need for reliable data about the COVID-19 pandemic. As Kyaw Kyaw Niang, from Buthidaung Township in Rahkine State put it: “Internet is ... even more crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic to get updated information. We need internet to be aware of the latest updates of the COVID-19 infection and the world news... [without the internet] I cannot get reliable COVID19 related information timely.”131 129 Myanmar interview 7. Name changed. 130 Bangladesh interview 1 131 Myanmar interview 1. Name changed. 30