Myanmar Junta Restores Privacy Law—but Amends It to Retain Arrest Powers

Just weeks before a new parliament is due to convene, Myanmar’s regime has amended the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens—a move that, at first glance, appears to restore democratic safeguards. But the broad escape clause inserted into the law ensures that, in practice, security forces retain the same unchecked powers they have exercised since the coup.

The law was enacted in 2017 under the since ousted National League for Democracy government to place clear limits on the power of security forces, prohibiting warrantless home entries, protecting private communications and requiring authorities to inform detainees of the reason for arrest. Key clauses mandated court warrants for searches, seizures and arrests of individuals.

However, less than two weeks after its Feb. 1 coup in 2021, the military regime suspended those key clauses, enabling authorities to enter into private properties to search, seize evidence and arrest without a warrant.