June 15, 2024
In recent days, the junta has intensified phone inspections and extortion activities in downtown Yangon, targeting people using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). This follows threats of arrest for VPN use, as reported by those who have experienced these checks firsthand to New Day Myanmar.
The military and police have been conducting thorough inspections in busy areas like shopping centers and residential neighborhoods. On June 13, junta forces were seen checking phones of shoppers at Junction City near Pan Pacific Hotel in Yangon’s Pabedan Township.
Despite no formal declaration enforcing the 2022 telecommunications law that penalizes VPN use, authorities are actively searching for VPN users.
“They checked some people’s phones, but not everyone. I don’t know if they were specifically looking for VPNs or acting on tips. It’s safer to delete your VPN app before going out,” a woman who experienced an inspection told New Day Myanmar.
In recent days, there have been detailed inspections of guest registers and phones in residential areas. This has been reported in Hlaing, Kamaryut, Tamwe, and Bahan Townships, where authorities enter homes and check guest registers and phones.
“One night, they checked guest registers on two streets in Tamwe. My son is of conscription age, so I was worried. They asked if anyone was of conscription age but didn’t force any signatures. They also checked phones, looking for VPNs,” a resident of Tamwe Township told New Day Myanmar.
Another resident said, “I have two accounts, so when I go out, I switch to the one with nothing on it. I also delete my VPN app. The other day, they stopped a taxi I was in near Yankin, made everyone get out, searched the car, checked bags, and thoroughly inspected phones. They looked through my photo album and even old posts on Facebook and Viber.”
Under the junta’s telecommunications law, using VPNs or similar technologies to access networks can result in prison sentences of one to three years, fines up to 500,000 kyats, or both.
In some cases, people found using VPNs have had to pay hefty bribes to avoid arrest.
