Myanmar Internet a Dead Zone After Thousands Arrested for Regime Criticism

Then-military chief senior general Min Aung Hlaing inspects a digital command center in 2019. / CINCDS

Myanmar’s regime has arrested a total of 2,029 social media users for expressing opposition to military rule over the five years since the 2021 coup, according to independent researcher Data for Myanmar.

Almost half of those detained (969) were from the two biggest cities of Yangon and Mandalay while women accounted for 35 percent of arrests.

Facebook posts triggered the vast majority of arrests (1,847), with the anti-regime opinions shared on Viber, TikTok, Telegram, and YouTube accounting for the rest.

The regime blocked access to major platforms like Facebook and Twitter (X) immediately after the coup, but citizens have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the blackout.

Data for Myanmar reports the regime’s assault on free speech began in 2022, using terrorism, sedition and incitement laws to prosecute internet users.

The crackdown deploys a multipronged approach: censors monitor social media platforms while military checkpoints routinely inspect citizens’ mobile phones and conduct on-the-spot arrests.

Meanwhile pro-military Telegram channels highlight anti-regime content, prompting legal punishment for even liking content critical of the regime.

The research group said the crackdown initially targeted Facebook users but has expanded to TikTok and other platforms since 2023.

The criminalization of free speech has had a chilling effect, turning the initial torrent of prosecutions into trickle. Only 26 people have been arrested for online dissent this year as of August 31.

“Arrests have declined because the public is increasingly reluctant to post or share sensitive content and is more careful about digital security when they travel,” Data for Myanmar told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

A Yangon resident reported that many people have switched from Facebook to TikTok while avoiding posting anything that might catch the eye of regime censors.

“We can be arrested if regime troops find the Facebook app on our phones,” he said.

Data for Myanmar figures do not include the hundreds of individuals arrested for online election criticism during the military-orchestrated vote at the turn of the year. Film directors and a comedian were among more than 400 jailed for posting or liking anti-election content.