Myanmar's Internet Laws: Digital Rights Update 2024

Here's a quick overview of Myanmar's current internet laws and digital rights situation:

• Military government controls internet access and online activities • Widespread internet shutdowns affecting 330+ townships • Social media platforms like Facebook blocked • High internet costs limit access for many

Key impacts on digital rights:

1. Limited online free speech
2. Weak data protection laws
3. Restricted access to information
4. Increased government surveillance

Recent changes:

• New VPN restrictions with jail time and fines
• Draft Cybersecurity Law proposing data localization
• E-Governance plan to digitize government services

Area	Current Status
Free Speech	Severely restricted
Data Privacy	Poor protections
Internet Access	Frequently shut down
Content Blocking	Widespread
VPN Use	Illegal without permission
Business Impact	Significant challenges

This guide explains Myanmar's internet laws, their effects on digital rights, and potential future changes.

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2. Background

Myanmar's internet rules have changed a lot since 2021. This part looks at how internet laws and online rights in Myanmar have changed over time.

2.1 Internet Rules Before 2021

Before 2021, Myanmar's internet rules were less strict, but still had some problems:

Year	Law	Key Points
2013	Telecommunications Law	- Government could control telecoms in emergencies - Article 77 let government cut off telecoms services - Rights groups worried about free speech

Despite these issues:

• Internet was mostly available
• People used social media like Facebook a lot

2.2 Changes After 2021

The military takeover in February 2021 changed internet freedom in Myanmar:

Change	What Happened
Internet shutdowns	Many areas lost internet access
Social media blocks	Facebook and other sites became hard to use
VPN blocks	Military tried to stop people from using VPNs
New laws	Changes to laws made it risky to speak freely online

Main changes since 2021:

1. Internet Cuts: The military often shut down the internet, making it hard for people to get information.

2. Allowed Websites List: Only some websites were allowed on mobile internet.

3. Law Changes: New rules made it dangerous to criticize the government online.

4. More Watching: Internet companies had to help the government watch what people do online.

5. Money Problems: Internet cuts made it harder for businesses to work, especially during COVID-19.

These changes have made it much harder for people in Myanmar to use the internet freely and safely. The military now controls most of what happens online, and people have fewer digital rights than before.

3. Current Laws

3.1 Main Internet Laws

Myanmar's internet laws affect online rights. Here are the key laws:

Law	What it does
Electronic Transactions Law	- Lets government see user data - Doesn't protect privacy well
Telecommunications Law	- Allows government to check communications - Lets officials inspect telecom offices
Draft Cybersecurity Law	- Wants data stored in Myanmar - Makes companies keep user data for 3 years

The Draft Cybersecurity Law, if passed, would:

• Make internet companies remove content the government doesn't like
• Force companies to keep user data for 3 years
• Make companies give user info to the government when asked

These rules don't match global standards for privacy and free speech.

3.2 New Laws in 2024

In 2024, Myanmar added new internet rules:

1. VPN Rules: The government wants to punish people who use VPNs without permission:

• Up to 3 years in jail
• Fines up to 5,000,000 kyats (about $1,125)

2. E-Governance Plan: The government wants to:

• Protect important computer systems
• Make government work digital
• Improve internet systems

3. Cybersecurity Policy: The 2023 policy aims to protect:

Who it protects	Examples
Government	Government offices
Important systems	Power plants, banks
Companies	Businesses, shops
People	Internet users
Schools	Universities, research centers

These new laws show the government wants more control over the internet. This worries people who care about online privacy and free speech in Myanmar.

4. Digital Rights Overview

Myanmar's internet freedom and online rights have gotten much worse since the military took over in 2021.

4.1 Online Free Speech

The military government has made it hard to speak freely online:

Restriction	Effect
New laws	People can be punished for criticizing the government
Vague rules	Words like "fake news" are used to stop people from speaking out
Social media blocks	It's hard to use Facebook and other sites

Because of these rules, many people in Myanmar are afraid to say what they think online.

4.2 Data Protection

Myanmar doesn't have good laws to protect people's information:

Problem	Result
No main data protection law	People's private info isn't safe
Weak Electronic Transactions Law	Not enough rules to keep personal data safe
Government can ask for data	Companies must give user info to the government

Without good data protection, it's easy for the government to watch what people do online.

4.3 Information Access

It's hard for people in Myanmar to get information:

Restriction	Impact
Internet shutdowns	Government often turns off internet, especially in conflict areas
Limited website access	Only some websites are allowed on mobile internet
VPN use is illegal	People can be punished for using VPNs to access blocked sites

These limits make it hard for people to:

• Know what's happening in the country
• Run businesses
• Check if human rights are being respected

Overall, digital rights in Myanmar are in a bad state. The military government uses many ways to control what people can see and do online.

5. Government Oversight

The Myanmar government has tightened control over the internet since the military took power in February 2021. This part looks at how the government watches and limits online activities.

5.1 Internet Shutdowns

The government often turns off the internet to control information:

Type	What It Means	When It Happens
Full Shutdown	No internet anywhere	Right after the military took over
Partial Shutdown	No internet in some places	Often in areas with fighting
Night Shutdown	No internet at night	To stop people from talking and planning

These shutdowns make it hard for people to get news, talk to others, or do business. In 2019, Myanmar cut off internet in Rakhine and Chin states for almost a year. Many people there didn't know about COVID-19 because of this.

5.2 Watching Online Activities

The military government watches what people do online more closely now:

• Spying tools: The military made internet companies use tools to read texts, emails, and listen to phone calls without asking people.
• Asking for data: The government asks internet companies for user information more often. For example, Telenor got over 200 requests in the year after the military took over.
• Checking phones: Soldiers sometimes stop people and look at their phones for banned apps or posts against the government.

The military can also use face recognition and get information from phones they take. This makes people feel unsafe online.

5.3 New Internet Rules

The government wants to make new rules that would give it more control:

Rule	What It Means
Keep data in Myanmar	Big websites must store user data on government servers
Keep user info for 3 years	Companies must save names, IP addresses, and ID numbers
No VPNs without permission	People could be fined or jailed for using VPNs
More power to block	Government could shut down websites and apps easily

These new rules worry many people and groups who care about online rights. They think the rules would make it harder for people in Myanmar to use the internet safely and freely.

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6. Effects on Different Areas

Myanmar's internet laws affect many parts of society. Here's how they impact business, education, and media.

6.1 Business and E-Commerce

The strict internet laws in Myanmar have hurt businesses:

Problem	Effect on Business
Internet shutdowns	Can't work online, lose money
Data storage rules	Costs more, privacy worries
No VPNs allowed	Hard to use global tools
Must remove content	Might censor, legal risks

• Big companies like Total Energies, Kirin Holdings, and Telenor have left Myanmar.
• The Asia Internet Coalition says the new cybersecurity law could scare away foreign investors.

6.2 Education and Online Learning

The internet rules have made learning harder:

• Many students can't use online classes because the internet is off or too expensive.
• Students can't use many global learning websites, which hurts their education.
• Some areas have better internet than others, making learning unfair.

6.3 Media and News

Journalists face big problems under these laws:

Challenge	Result
Must remove stories	Less news about important issues
Government watching	Hard to protect news sources
Jail time for posts	Journalists afraid to report freely
No internet	Can't report news as it happens

• Journalists are scared to write about the government.
• It's hard to report on human rights issues.
• Using VPNs is illegal, making it unsafe for journalists and their sources.

These effects show how Myanmar's internet laws hurt many parts of life. The government needs to find a way to keep people safe online without taking away their rights.

7. Digital Rights Issues

Myanmar's digital rights have gotten worse since the military took over in February 2021. The government has put many limits on internet use and what people can say online.

7.1 Content Blocking

The military stops people from seeing many things online:

What's Blocked	Why
Social media	To stop protests
News websites	To control information
VPNs	To keep people from seeing blocked content

These blocks make it hard for people to:

• Say what they think
• Get information
• Talk to others

7.2 Arrests for Online Activity

The military has made new, strict laws about what people can say online:

• People can go to jail for criticizing the government
• Many activists and reporters have been arrested for their posts

Because of this:

• People are afraid to say what they think online
• Many groups that help people have closed
• It's harder to report when the government does bad things

7.3 VPN Rules

The military wants to stop people from using VPNs:

• VPNs help people see blocked websites in Myanmar
• About 20 million people use social media with VPNs
• Some less-known VPNs might still work for a while

If VPNs are banned:

Who It Affects	How
Regular People	- Can't get information easily - Easier for government to watch them - Harder to speak out
Businesses	- Can't use global internet tools - Have to spend more on safe communication - Might lose money from other countries

These VPN rules would be some of the strictest in the world. They would give the military even more control over what people in Myanmar can see and do online.

8. Fighting Back

People in Myanmar are trying to keep their internet freedom despite the government's strict rules. Here's how they're doing it:

8.1 Rights Groups

Some organizations are working to help people in Myanmar use the internet freely:

Group	What They Do
Access Now	Watches and reports on internet problems in Myanmar
National Unity Government	Speaks out against internet blocks and wants to build a free internet

These groups tell the world about Myanmar's internet issues and try to help.

8.2 Online Campaigns

People in Myanmar use the internet in smart ways to resist control:

• They use VPNs to get on social media and share news
• They share the "Three-Finger Salute" picture online to show they don't agree with the government
• They use less-known apps to talk and plan when big social media sites are blocked

These actions show that people in Myanmar keep trying to use the internet freely.

8.3 Global Support

People and companies from other countries are helping:

Who Helps	How They Help
VPN Companies	Keep working in Myanmar so people can get around blocks
NordVPN	Has a special program to help people in Myanmar
Other Countries	Some want to give money and tech help

This help from other countries is important. It lets people in Myanmar keep using the internet to speak out and get information.

9. Looking Ahead

This part looks at what might happen with internet laws and online rights in Myanmar in the future.

9.1 Possible Law Changes

The Myanmar government might make new internet rules in 2024. Here are some changes they might make:

Possible Change	What It Might Mean
Stricter VPN rules	Harder to use the internet freely
More cybersecurity rules	Government might watch people online more
New rules about online content	People might not be able to say what they want online

These changes could make it harder for people in Myanmar to use the internet freely.

9.2 New Online Rights Trends

Here are some ways people might deal with internet rules in the future:

1. Using less-known apps to talk online
2. Learning more about how to stay safe online
3. Using new types of internet that are harder to control
4. Other countries might try to help

9.3 Ideas to Make Things Better

Here are some ways to help protect online rights in Myanmar:

For people who make laws:

• Make rules that keep people's information private
• Talk to experts before making new internet laws
• Think about how internet rules affect businesses

For businesses:

• Ask for laws that keep the internet open
• Use tools that keep people's information safe
• Help teach people how to use the internet safely

For other countries:

• Keep watching what happens with internet rights in Myanmar
• Give help and tools to keep the internet free
• Talk to Myanmar's leaders about online rights

10. Wrap-up

10.1 Key Points

Myanmar's internet situation in 2024 faces big problems:

Issue	Effect
Draft Cyber Security Law	Hurts privacy, limits free speech
VPN Rules	Makes it hard to access information
Data Keeping	Government can watch people more easily
Business Problems	Makes it hard for companies to work

The main worries are:

• The 2022 draft Cyber Security Law could hurt privacy and free speech
• Using VPNs might become illegal with big fines
• The government wants to watch people online more
• Companies and other countries are worried about these new rules

10.2 What Needs to Be Done

To help protect internet rights in Myanmar, people need to keep working:

1. Other countries should ask Myanmar to change its strict internet laws

2. Groups helping people in Myanmar need support

3. Companies in Myanmar should ask for laws that keep the internet open

4. People in Myanmar need to learn how to stay safe online

5. New tools to get around blocks and keep information private are important

The fight for internet rights in Myanmar isn't over. As the government plans to make more rules about internet safety, everyone - from people using the internet to big world groups - needs to keep working to protect online freedoms and make the internet more open in Myanmar.

11. More Information

11.1 Helpful Organizations

Here are some groups that can help you learn more about internet rights in Myanmar:

Organization	What They Do
Human Rights Watch	Checks how digital rights are being treated in Myanmar
Asia Internet Coalition	Tries to keep the internet free in Asia
Access Now	Gives tips on how to stay safe online

11.2 Government Documents

These papers show what the government wants to do:

Document	What It's About
Myanmar Cyber Security Policy 2023	31 pages about how to manage online safety until 2028
Draft Cybersecurity Law 2022	New rules that might affect VPNs and what you can do online

11.3 Research Papers

Here are some studies about internet laws in Myanmar:

Paper Title	Main Topic	What They Found
"Impact of Internet Shutdowns in Myanmar"	Money lost due to internet cuts	Myanmar lost $3 billion because of internet limits
"VPN Usage in Myanmar: Trends and Challenges"	How people use VPNs	20 million people who use social media are affected by VPN bans
"Cybersecurity Law Analysis"	What the new laws mean	The laws might make it hard for people to keep their information private and say what they think

To know what's happening with internet laws in Myanmar right now, check these sources often.

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