Myanmar junta’s digital crackdown cut independent news access by nearly half, report says

Mizzima

A new Human Rights Myanmar report says the Myanmar military has cut public access to independent news by nearly half since the 2021 coup through internet restrictions, surveillance, and rising data costs.

The report, News Audience Suppression Under Myanmar’s Digital Coup, analysed 12 billion Facebook data points from 50 Myanmar media outlets between the pre-coup period and the 2025-26 military-organised election period.

The report says the sampled media outlets’ combined audience reach fell by 48%, from 4.7 billion monthly views before the coup to 2.4 billion in 2026. At the same time, media production increased by 18%, while regional media outlets expanded output by 108%, demonstrating what the authors describe as the resilience of independent journalism under military repression.

The report attributes the collapse in audience reach to the military’s internet shutdowns, the blocking of Facebook and independent news websites, restrictions on VPNs, extensive digital surveillance, higher internet costs, and changes to Facebook’s algorithms.

Researchers argue these measures have transformed access to news into “a high-risk and costly activity”, encouraging widespread self-censorship.

Public engagement on Facebook reflected those concerns. Shares of media posts fell by 63%, and comments declined by 42%, which the report says suggests users increasingly avoid visible interactions that could expose them to military surveillance.

The report also found audiences increasingly rejected military propaganda. The reach of military-affiliated media declined by 76%, while independent outlets continued to dominate news production. Public engagement also shifted away from pro-military narratives, which the report says underscores that audiences still sought independent reporting despite growing barriers to access.

The study also warns that Myanmar’s online information space is becoming increasingly polarised. While strongly anti-military media gained audiences, views of more impartial outlets fell by 70%, which raises concerns that shrinking shared information spaces could deepen social divisions.

Restoring access to independent information, the report finds, is essential for the survival of Myanmar’s media sector, as well as protecting the public’s fundamental right to information.