Using the internet and social media with mobile phone data has become more difficult across Shan State since the military council enacted the Cybersecurity Law in early January, locals report.
After the military junta implemented the Cybersecurity Law on 1 January, young locals report that mobile operators’ internet speeds have slowed significantly, and connecting to VPNs for social media access has become more challenging.
A young resident from Taunggyi said: “This VPN blocking is really bad. Facebook won’t load no matter how you try to access it. Nothing works with mobile data – can’t send messages, can’t listen to audio, nothing. Even with Telegram and Viber, it takes forever just to send a message.”
Merchants also report experiencing delays when making online payments through relevant applications using mobile data.
“With mobile data, it’s just loading and slow regardless of which package you use. Even simple things like money transfers and phone top-ups take forever. We can’t even see new posts on Facebook anymore. They’re not just restricting social media – it’s like they don’t want us to use it at all. None of the VPNs connect anymore, even when we try different ones,” the young man continued.
The junta’s Cybersecurity Law stipulates prison sentences and fines for establishing or providing VPN services without permission, misusing electronic technology, and creating online gambling systems.
In addition, Section 72 states that anyone distributing, sending, copying, or selling inappropriate information for public viewing through fax, email, or technology-created social networks can face imprisonment from one to six months and fines ranging from one million to ten million kyats, or both.
Technology experts point out that the military council’s newly enacted Cybersecurity Law appears aimed at keeping the public in an information blackout, controlling citizens’ personal freedoms, and arresting VPN users.
After the military forcefully seized power in 2021 and began restricting internet access, people circumvented restrictions using VPN software. Sources report that police and soldiers under military council control have been extorting money from people found with VPN software during phone inspections.
Sent by Shan News.