Previous 5 / 5 Next

Fourth Year Under Myanmar Military’s Digital Iron Curtain: A Reflecti... 5 of 5 https://www.techpolicy.press/fourth-year-under-myanmar-militarys-digit... AUTHORS WAI PHYO MINT Wai Phyo Myint is an Asia-Pacific Policy Analyst at Access Now. Wai Phyo has been working as a digital rights advocate in Myanmar for over eight years, and has previous experience in political advisory, media, and communications. Wai Phyo has served as one of the leading persons in Myanmar organizin... RELATED Myanmar Cannot Wait: Only Coordinated Global Pushback Will Stop Escalating Violence and Repression Why 2024 Was The Worst Year for Internet Shutdowns Meta’s New Content Policies Risk Fueling More Mass Violence And Genocide Rethinking Digital Humanitarianism in Rohingya Refugee Camps Reconciling Social Media & Democracy: Ramesh Srinivasan TOPICS Democracy Hate and harassment Human Rights A nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. Privacy About Fellows Articles Donate Contributors Podcast Privacy Policy Submissions Research Library Tech Policy Press © 2025 — a 501(c)(3) organization 3/25/25, 5:10 PM

Select target paragraph3

● ● ●

Fourth Year Under Myanmar Military’s Digital Iron Curtain: A Reflection on Digital Repression and the Path Forward

Report

Preview

Language

English

Topic

Digital Rights

Author(s)

Tech Policy

Date Published: Mar 3, 2025

Abstract: Digital crackdown has never been tighter in Myanmar. Since the coup in February 2021, Myanmar's military regime has waged an unrelenting digital war on its people. Now in its fourth year of power, the junta continues to tighten its digital iron curtain, suppressing rights both online and off through internet shutdowns, advanced surveillance, and censorship. More than 6,200 people have been killed, and 28,370 arrested, with at least 1,840 detained for online expression alone — often for something as simple as a Facebook post or using a virtual private network (VPN). With near total control over the country’s telecom sector, the junta has proved itself to be one of the world’s worst abusers of digital repression, hunting down critics and opposition voices, and turning Myanmar into a surveillance state.

On the first day of 2025, the military enacted the controversial Cybersecurity Law, granting itself further power to block websites and monitor, censor, and punish online expression — a clear signal that the regime intends to continue intensifying its digital oppression. Yet, the sudden passage of the legislation that had been dormant for the last two years reveals the military’s desperation: a failing regime clinging to control, fearing the growing resistance movement that refuses to be silenced and has, over the last 12 months, shrunk the military’s control to just about 21 % of the country.

Link: Source

Primary Documents

Fourth Year Under Myanmar Military’s Digital Iron Curtain_ A Reflection on Digital Repression and the Path Forward _ TechPolicy.Press.pdf
English
Download View

Myanmar Internet Project

Select target paragraph3

Fourth Year Under Myanmar Military’s Digital Iron Curtain: A Reflection on Digital Repression and the Path Forward

Primary Documents

Notifications