The revelations prompted a lawsuit against the company in October 2025. The lawsuit was filed by Defend Myanmar Democracy and the Myanmar Internet Project, together with Tha Zin, whose husband, Zay Yar Thaw—a pro-democracy activist and opposition politician—was arrested and executed by the junta after Telenor allegedly shared his call log262. As Telenor is a Norwegian majority state-owned company, Norway’s parliament launched a probe against the company in December 2025263. As the military has tightened its surveillance efforts, it has also relied on the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS), which integrates facial recognition, AI, and digital IDs to identify civilians264. The PSMS is reportedly developed with support from Huawei and uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition to monitor individuals265. The system enables authorities to cross-check national registration numbers against criminal records at checkpoints, hotels, and ticketing counters266. Media reports indicate that its use has intensified in the lead-up to the sham election267. C. Implications of the Situations on Human Rights and Democracy The most pressing concern, in light of developments in 2025, is the military’s attempt to establish itself as the legitimate government of Myanmar. Such an act would further endanger all aspects of digital rights in the country, despite the already critical situation. The coup d’état carried out by the junta has been widely condemned, and any effort to legitimize this action through a fabricated election should not be internationally recognized as establishing the military as the legitimate head of state. Events in 2025 continue to underscore the absence of the rule of law and democratic governance in Myanmar. Since the coup, digital strategies have become a pivotal instrument for the military to seize and maintain power, including internet restrictions, the suppression of independent media, censorship, and the deployment of cyber armies “Wilde-Ramsing, Joseph, and Beini Ye. “Telenor Faces Legal Action Over Human Rights Abuses in Myanmar.” SOMO, 6 Oct. 2025, www.somo.nl/telenor-faces-legal-action-over-human-rights-abuses-inmyanmar. 263. “Parliament Probes Telenor’s Exit From War-Torn Myanmar.” News in English, 16 Dec. 2025, www. newsinenglish.no/2025/12/16/parliament-probes-telenors-exit-from-war-torn-myanmar. 264. “Digital Tyranny.” Progressive Voice, 20 July 2025, progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/07/20/65773. 265. Graceffo, Antonio. “China’s Global Security Initiative and the Burma Junta’s PSMS Surveillance.” Mizzima, 6 June 2025, eng.mizzima.com/2025/06/06/23126. 266. “Myanmar Junta Launches Street Phone Checks as Cybersecurity Law Takes Effect.” The Irrawaddy, 6 Aug. 2025, www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-launches-street-phone-checks-ascybersecurity-law-takes-effect.html. 267. “Mon State Sees Tighter Enforcement of PSMS Surveillance System.” BNI, 24 Oct. 2025, www.bnionline. net/en/news/mon-state-sees-tighter-enforcement-psms-surveillance-system. 262. 60