Myanmar: CFWIJ Concerned Regarding State Overreach In Digital Space

Location: Myanmar, Yangon
Date: February 1, 2022

A letter penned by the Ministry of Transport and Communication, dated January 13, suggests that the military-led government in the country plans to increase digital surveillance of citizens. The letter speaks of a legislation which, if put into effect, would grant the state officials the right to access and intercept user data. It also speaks of heavy fines on the use of virtual private networking softwares (VPN).

The legislation is a revised version of a previous draft bill that was shelved due to widespread criticism from business technology groups and civil rights groups alike. The current version, which has the signatures of the ministry’s permanent secretary, Soe Thein, is open for comment until January 28. For this reason, it has been distributed among several state offices and private entities, including 13 ministries, chambers of commerce, banks, telecommunications operators, and internet service providers.

The legislation is particularly concerning since the military government in the country banned social media giants like Facebook and Twitter soon after taking assuming power through a coup.  While the larger country has been unable to access these sites, news media organizations were able to use them through VPNs. The new legislation proposes prison time for up to three years and fines of up to 5 million kyat (US$2,800) for those found using these softwares. Commentators believe that the legislation can come into effect any day significantly damaging the limited press freedoms in the country.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned about what this could mean for civil rights in the country. The current military government have acquired power through illicit means and this is the latest in the attempt to clamp down on the voice of the citizens. We urge international attention to what is unfolding in the country, the impact of this regime's rule will long outlast it, crippling the democratic infrastructure of the country.

 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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