a pro-democracy activist and opposition politician, was allegedly arrested after the military obtained his data from Telenor56. He was executed in 202257. The military has reportedly used Chinese technology from a firm called Geedge Networks to monitor users’ online activities and detect the use of VPNs 58 . At least, 13 telecommunications companies, including Atom, Mytel, Ooredoo, and MPT, have allegedly been involved in installing Geedge Networks’ technology59. This situation reportedly grants the military unrestricted access to the data of 33.4 million internet users in Myanmar60. Using technology from Geedge Networks, the system enables the junta to track network traffic at the individual level and identify the geographic location of mobile subscribers in real time by linking their activity to specific cell identifiers61. It has also been reported that the junta has used AI technology to monitor online communications. By using predefined keywords, the AI can detect terms in online communications and automatically record them, notify the relevant authorities, or even obtain the estimated location of phone users62. Indonesia and Vietnam have also seen their governments increase influence over the telecommunications sector. In 2025, Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) signed a wiretapping agreement with four major local telecommunications operators, putting the data of 350 million users at risk. The four companies are PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, PT Telekomunikasi Selular, PT Indosat, and PT XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera 63 . The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the AGO and these companies potentially allows prosecutors to access communications without adequate legal safeguards. Under the MoU, the companies are required to “install wiretapping devices, share telecommunications data, and provide real-time information” at the request of the AGO64. Sue Win. “Telenor Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Transfer of User Data to Myanmar Military.” Myanmar Now, 8 Oct. 2025, myanmar-now.org/en/news/telenor-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-transfer-of-user-data-tomyanmar-military. 57. Beech, Hannah. “Phyo Zeya Thaw, Burmese Pro-Democracy Rapper, 41, Is Executed.” The New York Times, 27 July 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/world/asia/27phyo-zeya-thaw-dead.html. 58. “Report Reveals How China’s Geedge Networks and Myanmar Telecoms Companies Are Enabling the Illegal Junta’s Digital Terror Campaign.” Justice For Myanmar, 9 Sep. 2025, www.justiceformyanmar. org/press-releases/report-reveals-how-chinas-geedge-networks-and-myanmar-telecoms-companiesare-enabling-the-illegal-juntas-digital-terror-campaign. 59. “Can the Chinese Government Access the Data of Millions of Myanmar Internet Users?” BBC News Burmese, 4 Nov. 2025, www.bbc.com/burmese/articles/cy8rpv2mvj7o. 60. Ibid. 61. Ibid. 62. “5 Surveillance Techniques Used by the Military Council.” BBC News Burmese, 22 May 2025, www.bbc. com/burmese/articles/cewddpeqj07o. 63. Redaksi, Tim. “Why Are the Attorney General’s Wiretapping Powers Controversial?” Kompas.id, 27 June 2025, www.kompas.id/artikel/en-mengapa-kewenangan-penyadapan-kejaksaan-menjadi-kontroversial. 64. Ibid. 56. 19