Nearly 2,000 people arrested for criticizing Myanmar’s junta on social media

Mizzima

A total of 1,993 people across Myanmar have been arrested for criticizing the junta on social media since the 2021 coup, according to a report released by Data for Myanmar, a research group.

The group said the findings, made public on 3 November, were based on a survey conducted over nearly four years, from February 2022 to the end of October 2025.

Among the 1,573 documented arrests, 499 were from Yangon Region, 458 from Mandalay Region, 258 from Bago Region, 125 from Ayeyarwady Region, 122 from Magway Region, and 111 from Shan State, the report stated.

Data for Myanmar also noted that 25 people were arrested in October under the Election Protection Law for criticizing the junta’s planned election on social media.

The Election Protection Law, enacted on 29 July, has led to the arrest of nearly 90 people within the past three months, according to figures released by the military commission.

Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, the junta’s Home Affairs minister and chairman of the Central Committee on Security Supervision for the Multiparty Democracy General Election, said on 31 October that a total of 88 individuals – 83 men and 5 women – were arrested in 40 cases for alleged propaganda and agitation activities deemed to threaten election security. His statement appeared in junta-controlled newspapers on 1 November.

Since the law’s introduction, the junta has continued arresting individuals who post, share, or react to anti-election content on social media.

According to the military-controlled Union Election Commission, Phase 1 of the planned election is scheduled to take place in 102 townships on 28 December 2025, followed by Phase 2 in 100 townships on 11 January 2026.