September 16, 2024
In the three years since the military coup, nearly 1,700 people have been arrested for criticizing the junta on social media, according to a report released by the independent research group, Data for Myanmar. The group revealed that as of now, 1,691 individuals have been detained for their online criticisms of the junta.
Most of the arrests have occurred in Yangon and Mandalay Regions, where 806 people were detained for social media posts criticizing the junta. Data for Myanmar further noted that 202 individuals were arrested in 2024 alone.
Approximately 36% of the total detainees are women, and the majority of the arrests stem from posts made on Facebook. Other platforms like TikTok, Telegram, and Viber have also been involved in some of the cases.
The junta has been closely monitoring online activity and arresting individuals based on their social media posts, even inspecting mobile phones at checkpoints to target dissenters. Pro-junta Telegram channels have also played a role in gathering personal information on individuals critical of the regime, leading to their arrests.
Among those arrested are well-known artists, actors, and journalists, with nearly daily reports of such arrests being published in pro-junta newspapers and media outlets.
The junta has justified its actions by citing laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Penal Code’s Section 124(a), Section 505(a), and the Electronic Transactions Law’s Section 33(a), stating that they will prosecute those found guilty of incitement or threats against the state.
In 2022, the junta issued a warning, emphasizing that individuals engaging in such activities would face legal consequences. The Freedom House organization ranked Myanmar as the second-worst country globally for internet freedom in its “Freedom on the Net – 2023” report, underscoring the dire situation regarding online freedom in the country.
