Nowhere Are the Threats Facing Journalism More Real Than in Myanmar

As the world marks World Press Freedom Day 2025 with the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” the reality in Myanmar is far more brutal and immediate. Not surprisingly, Myanmar ranks 169th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index.

In Myanmar, press freedom is not simply under pressure—it is under attack. The military regime has long declared journalists enemies of the state. Now, amid intensifying crackdowns and the creeping rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance, the very act of reporting the truth has become a life-threatening endeavor. As of December 2024, approximately 55 journalists are currently detained or serving jail sentences in Myanmar.