Since the junta’s ban on Facebook following the coup, protesters in Myanmar have learned to use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access the internet and mask their IP addresses, which can be used to an extent to track protesters’ location and identities. However, a proposed cybersecurity bill would criminalize the use of VPNs and give the military unlimited access to private data. Additionally, documents from human rights group Justice for Myanmar show that purchases of dual-use surveillance technology from Israeli, U.S., and European firms increased over the past two years as the Myanmar military maintained control over spending for law enforcement and security-related issues. In larger cities like Yangon and Mandalay, protesters fear that the regime may use Chinese facial recognition technology and CCTV footage to track and identify them. In Thailand, human rights advocates have raised concerns that the Computer Crime Act of 2016 and the Cybersecurity Act of 2019 give the government unchecked power to monitor online data and target users who post any criticism of the military or monarchy. Lèse-majesté prosecutions have soared since last year: according to Thai watchdog iLaw, at least 55 people have been charged with lèse-majesté since November 2020, many for defamatory comments made online. The Thai military has also conducted targeted misinformation campaigns online. In November 2020, a leaked briefing for the Thai Army showed military personnel receiving training on how to use Twitter to boost pro-monarchy hashtags and attack pro-democracy netizens. The Future of the Digital Revolution The growth of these protest movements online has caused social media giants like Facebook and Twitter to reconsider their role in providing and disseminating information. Facebook, which was criticized in 2018 for not doing enough to curb online hate speech directed at Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, took down all accounts linked to the country’s military on February 25. This is significant in Myanmar, where Facebook is largely synonymous with the internet for most citizens. In Thailand, Twitter removed 926 fake accounts that it attributed to the military in October 2020, and Facebook took down 185 military-linked accounts and groups in March 2021. It is difficult to predict the future of these protest movements. After nearly a year, the Thai demonstrations have not succeeded in bringing about Prayuth’s resignation, constitutional amendments, or reform of the monarchy. With the arrests of multiple protest leaders, the Thai government is likely hoping that the protests will peter out. The Myanmar demonstrations have also called for the democratically-elected government to be reinstated, but the military has only doubled down on violent suppression. As of April 1, the death toll has surpassed 500. Nevertheless, the digitization of protest movements has allowed activists to stay in contact with each other and their supporters abroad, provide first-hand accounts of government abuses, and create a historical record for future generations. By mobilizing widespread support and speaking out on issues that were previously taboo, the Milk Tea Alliance in Southeast Asia has proven that democracy in the region is not a lost cause. 3/4