3/24/26, 1:25 PM Five Years After Coup, Myanmar’s Digital Authoritarianism Enters New Phase | TechPolicy.Press of advanced digital technologies has become central to an integrated system of the military’s authoritarian control designed to govern through fear and technological dominance. The controversial Cybersecurity Law, enacted on January 1, 2025, further entrenches a broad and systematic surveillance regime. The military has systematically disrupted the country’s communications infrastructure, becoming one of the world’s worst offenders of internet shutdowns for the last five years. More than 130 of 330 townships have been placed under prolonged internet blackouts, while VPNs and social media platforms have been banned. At the same time, advanced firewall systems have been installed at national internet gateways to filter, monitor, and restrict online content. Data from national databases, e-ID systems, sim registration data, financial and banking records, and census programs have been consolidated into a centralized identity system that is systematically used for surveillance, arrests, and forced conscription. Blending traditional tactics, such as legal instruments, human intelligence, and state databases, with a new tool, the so-called “Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System” (PSMS) functions as a digital screening and tracking system. By integrating with the automated, facial recognitionpowered PSMS, it entrenches authoritarian control over both physical and digital spaces. Although the full impact of the PSMS, linked to national databases, warrant lists, and biometric data, is difficult to unpack and measure, the military has reportedly used it at roadside checkpoints, checking IDs or scanning individuals’ irises and arresting those flagged for alleged anti-junta activities. The repressive practices came to support technologies that have already resulted in mass arrests and violations, leaving people living in constant fear. According to the latest report from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, over the past five years, the military has killed at least 7,761 people, including 1,005 children, and arrested more than 30,426 people, including 631 children, for political reasons. The majority remain in prison today. Among them, hundreds of individuals were arrested solely for their online expression, including changing their profile pictures to black, liking anti-junta posts, commenting in support of resistance activities, or making financial contributions. Data for Myanmar further reports that as of November 2025, the junta had burned at least 113,054 homes since the coup. Foreign support and the militarization of technology These tools and practices form the backbone of digital authoritarianism. Much of this technological infrastructure is not domestically developed but has been used to escalate military repression. Support from foreign governments, particularly China and Russia, has played a decisive role in enabling this new phase of authoritarian control. Surveillance infrastructure, cybersecurity systems, support for military owned and/or controlled telecommunications networks, data centers, and data governance models imported from countries such as China, Russia, and India have provided the military with both the tools, such as the growing use of foreign advanced drones with night vision cameras and infrastructure for extensive digital identity systems, as well as the blueprint for digital control. In September 2025, Justice For Myanmar published an investigative report revealing that the Chinese company Geedge Networks supplied the Myanmar military with a commercial version of China’s “Great Firewall,” including deep packet inspection (DPI) technology. According to the report, this system enables real-time surveillance and geolocation of Myanmar’s 33.4 million internet users, with operational support from 13 domestic telecommunications providers. OUR CONTENT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Join our newsletter on issues and ideas at the intersection of tech & democracy Enter email address Subscribe https://www.techpolicy.press/five-years-after-coup-myanmars-digital-authoritarianism-enters-new-phase/ 2/4