Over 1,800 people arrested for online activity since coup: research group

By Admin 03 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
3 December 2024, Sittwe

During the three-plus years since Myanmar’s military coup, at least 1,840 people have been arrested by the regime for “their online expression on social media or online communications opposing the Myanmar military and supporting pro-democracy movements and resistance groups,” Data for Myanmar said in a recent report.

Most of the detainees were arrested for postings on Facebook, while there were also arrests for messages or videos posted on TikTok, Telegram and Viber.

“Following the military coup, the Myanmar military has made numerous efforts to control key social networks and online platforms critical to pro-democracy movements. These efforts include internet shutdowns, blocking websites, and restricting access to popular platforms like Facebook to prevent public use,” the report said.

The regime detained 874 people in 2022, 615 in 2023, and 351 as of October 31, 2024. Of the detainees, 657 were women. Most of them are internet users from Yangon and Mandalay regions, where a total of 896 people were arrested. Among the detainees were artists, movie stars and journalists.

The Data for Myanmar report shows that the highest number of arrests occurred in May, June, July and August 2022, with a decrease in arrests so far in 2024.

“The regime is conducting mass surveillance of its citizens online. The regime is inciting people to arrest anyone who criticizes it in areas under its control. That is why people in areas under its control are very cautious about using the internet,” said a Yangon resident.

In a set of concluding recommendations, the Data for Myanmar said relevant organisations should protect the right to freedom of speech, and online users should refrain from posting racial or religious hate speech. Online users should also take precautions to ensure their personal information remains secure while using digital platforms, the report added.

“The regime will do anything to avoid defeat. The regime can arrest anyone it deems to be opposing the military dictatorship under any law. No matter how much the regime controls social media, it cannot hide its human rights violations,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State.

Anyone who makes, shares, or assists in disseminating information deemed to disturb the public can be charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, Section 124(a) of the Penal Code, Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and/or Section 33(a) of the Telecommunications Law, the regime announced on January 25, 2022.