iMAP Myanmar 2023 Internet Censorship Report | Page 18 Reported Cases of Internet Censorship As detailed in the following sections, Myanmar has faced instances of internet censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly in the aftermath of the coup. These reported cases, especially the blocking of social media sites, are found to persist even during the period of study from July 2022 to June 2023. Social Media Blackouts Since 2021, social media sites such as Facebook, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger have been blocked in Myanmar.47 On 5 February 2021, Privacysavvy reported that Twitter and Instagram were also blocked.48 Following that, the military junta blocked Wikipedia in all languages on 18 February 2021.49 Figure 2: Escalating internet suppression in Myanmar in 2021 (Source: Reuters) Blocking of Websites On 8 April 2022, the MoTC secretly ordered the ban of all anti-SAC websites,50 including the websites of the National Unity Government (NUG) and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Representative Committee (CRPH) that emerged to rebel against the military coup. Furthermore, on 30 October 2022, The Irrawaddy reported that the SAC announced via state media to ban the The Irrawaddy News outlet and revoke its licence.51 47 Accessnow. (2022, March 18). Internet access, censorship, and the Myanmar coup. https://www.accessnow.org/update-internet-access-censorship-myanmar/ 48 Mathenge, R. (2022, September 19). Internet censorship in Myanmar and how to evade it in 2022. Privacysavvy. https://privacysavvy.com/geoblocking/censorship/myanmar-internet-censorship-evade-it/ 49 Januta, A., & Funakoshi, M. (2021, April 7). Myanmar’s internet suppression. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/graphics/MYANMAR-POLITICS/INTERNET-RESTRICTION/rlgpdbreepo/ 50 Khit Thit Media. (2022, April 19). Ban anti-SAC websites. https://web.facebook.com/385165108587508/posts/1475521106218564?_rdc=1&_rdr 51 The Irrawaddy. (2022, October 31). After Repeated Crackdowns, Myanmar Junta Officially Bans The Irrawaddy. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/after-repeated-crackdowns-myanmar-junta-officially-bans-the-irrawaddy.html