An interviewee in Bangladesh, Ali Jinnah Hussin, shared in Kyaw Kyaw Niang’s desire to be able to access both local and global information about the state of the pandemic. Those who have family and close connections around the world need information not only on the risks they face at home, but also on how their loved ones are faring. Moreover, people need good sources for health information about behaviors that can mitigate their personal risk. As an interviewee in Bangladesh wrote, the internet is a source of “many kinds of tips and information to survive my life from COVID-19 pandemic.”132 Social media sites, predominantly Facebook, account for the majority of the internet use in Myanmar and are widely used by government ministries, and our interviewees from Myanmar affirmed that this is where they would have sought information, had it been available: “[Before the shutdown] I used Facebook most frequently... to get the news and other information. For example, if I like Facebook page of Ministry of Health and Sports, I can receive reliable news relating to the ongoing pandemic.”133 When the government is making use of the internet and social media sites as official channels to disseminate information, blocking or impeding access to those accounts may constitute a violation of individuals’ right to free expression and access to information.134 In the absence of an internet connection during the shutdowns, our interviewees in both countries sought alternative sources of information, but found them lacking. In Myanmar, interviewees identified the television news as one other source, but expressed frustration that it lacked “the latest information.”135 The only other option that our interviewees identified was that “[t]here are some announcements made through the loudspeaker – once a day or once a week to read out the public announcements in every town ward. But I can’t understand their loud voices very well. I can’t ... hear clearly.”136 In the refugee camps, one of our interviewees acknowledged that the NGOs he interacts with are making efforts to relay key information about the pandemic, but that it Simply isn’t sufficient, especially as he wants to be able not only to read information, but also to send out updates to far-flung family.137 Given the fast-moving nature of the pandemic and the detailed nature of the information needed, as well as the desire for two-way communication, these alternative means of accessing information are clearly not adequate substitutes for internet access. 132 Bangladesh interview 3. 133 Myanmar interview 6. 134 For example, in the United States, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals found it to be a violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects Americans’ rights to free expression, when President Donald Trump blocked other Twitter accounts from following his, since he used his account for official purposes. https://knightcolumbia.org/documents/a07ecc2a26/2019.07.09_ECF-1411_Opinion.pdf 135 Myanmar interview 2. 136 Myanmar interview 6. 137 Bangladesh interview 1. 31