This loss of audience undermines the media's ability to serve the public interest. It also threatens media sustainability because independent outlets increasingly rely on income from platforms like Facebook for financial viability. The decline also suggests that millions of people are unable to exercise their right to information. A few independent outlets have used virality and quality strategies to defy the trend. The Myanmar Press Photo Agency grew its total reach by +1,704%, Khit Thit Media increased by +1,365%, and Kachin Waves’ audience rose by +788%. Other outlets, such as BBC (Burmese), Kachin News Group, and Myanmar Now, have focused on small-volume-high-impact strategies, maintaining influence with 636, 487, and 475 thousand views per post, respectively. Although any concentration of reach around a few outlets creates risks for media pluralism, it also demonstrates that the public's demand for independent reporting can overcome digital censorship. 4. The causes of audience decline The gap between increased media posts (+18%) and declining audience reach (-48%) represents a threat to the public’s right to receive information. This section analyses the technical, algorithmic, and economic barriers that have obstructed information flows in Myanmar. 4.1. Blocked by the military’s “Great Firewall” The primary cause of the decline in audience reach is likely the military’s technical campaign to block the public from accessing news. Following the coup, the military started building a “Great Firewall” by ordering internet shutdowns and blocking access to Facebook and independent media websites. The firewall was escalated during the 2025-26 election period. When the public turned to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent the firewall, the military responded by effectively banning these tools. They criminalised people for trying to avoid the firewall. The firewall violates everyone’s rights, but is even more severe for marginalised groups. People in rural areas with slower connections, those with lower levels of digital literacy, communities dealing with conflict, and women facing intersectional pressures, among others, face greater barriers to circumventing the firewall. These actions represent a systemic violation of Article 19 of the ICCPR, as they strip the public of their right to seek and receive information. Page 11 of 24