Justice For Myanmar urges action against companies involved in junta’s internet censorship

By Admin 20 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
20 June 2024, Sittwe

Justice For Myanmar, a covert group of activists monitoring companies and individuals funding and abetting the junta’s war crimes, has called for sanctions against Chinese and Myanmar companies involved in the regime’s internet censorship and surveillance.

Myanmar’s military junta has accessed Chinese equipment, technology and support in its efforts to ramp up internet censorship and surveillance.

Two Chinese firms — Geedge Networks and China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) — are involved in supplying the regime with technology and equipment to restrict internet usage, according to Justice For Myanmar.

Geedge Networks is described as a Chinese private network security and intelligence equipment and solutions company whereas CEIEC is a Chinese state-owned enterprise that designs, integrates, and constructs national defence electronics systems.

Myanmar’s Mascots Group, a network of five companies, served as the broker, according to Justice For Myanmar.

“Chinese cronies and their Myanmar cronies are giving surveillance and internet censoring technologies to the illegal military regime, which will affect millions of people,” said Justice For Myanmar spokeswoman Ma Yadanar Maung.

The regime has blocked access to Facebook and many websites since the military coup, forcing Myanmar people to use virtual private networks (VPN) to bypass the junta’s restrictions.

At the end of May 2024, the junta began using a new web surveillance and censorship system to increase its control of the internet. Many people have reported that they can no longer use VPNs. Meanwhile, the regime has also arrested people for using VPNs, further restricting people’s access to information and contributing to a climate of fear.

One woman from Minbya Township said: “We could not use free VPNs anymore. A friend helped me buy a paid VPN. The regime is persecuting people in various ways.”

While the regime is arbitrarily killing and detaining people and restricting free expression, the new technology from China is aiding and abetting the junta’s crimes against humanity, said Justice For Myanmar.

The group has called on governments to urgently impose sanctions against Geedge Networks, CEIEC and Mascots Group, its directors and related companies.