The inspector knew that Signal app is an application for secure communication. [...] There were inspectors who inspected more thoroughly if they found the Signal app. That’s what I have noticed. When they found Signal app, 8 they asked, “Are you going to Mae Sot?” They took more time to inspect young people. Even though they let us go, they knew what we were going for. They just let us go because they didn’t find anything or didn’t identify us [as a wanted person]. Contrastingly, the use of Facebook, despite often being flagged as a security risk in digital security training, is seen by some journalists as a necessity to blend in. Journalists need not only to have Facebook installed on their phone but must also have activities to craft an impression of active usage. While training usually advises against sharing personal information on Facebook—alongside scepticism toward Meta as a big tech company in general—such a situation requires journalists to share seemingly personal information that can maintain the appearance of normalcy while at the same time not exposing themselves to risk. Journalist #1, who has to “maintain all the normal data and apps on the phone to look normal,” explains: In Myanmar, all people use Facebook. Most people our age use Facebook. If one doesn't have a Facebook account, it seems unrealistic. Indeed, the journalists seem to perceive the military junta’s inspection methods as primarily low-tech. Their approach hinges on manual checks against warrants, officers’ ability to spot “suspicious” individuals, and rudimentary digital surveillance where officers manually identify potential threats. 8. A town on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. 26