Myanmar

Major Social Media Platforms and VPNs Restricted/Blocked: WhatsApp, X, Instagram, and many popular VPNs (including Psiphon and NordVPN) were restricted or became inaccessible by government order, accompanied by an offline crackdown on VPN use.

Committee to Prosecute Pornography and Criticism Established: The military established a new interdepartmental committee tasked with identifying and prosecuting individuals who post pornography, 'fake news,' or political criticism on social media under existing laws.

Counter Terrorism Law Amended: The Counter Terrorism Law was amended to include a new chapter granting authorities sweeping powers to intercept, block, or restrict mobile and electronic communications without court oversight.

Draft Cyber Security Law Reintroduced: A slightly revised draft of the Cyber Security Law was reintroduced (though not yet enacted), proposing further criminal penalties for online activities, including the use of VPNs and pseudonyms.

Default Blocking on Mobile Services Implemented: The military ordered mobile service providers to obstruct access to all websites and IP addresses except for a whitelist of approximately 1,200 approved addresses.

Cyber Security Law Enacted: The Cyber Security Law was enacted by the military junta, granting broad powers for surveillance and content control, reinforcing prohibitions on 'unlawful' content and content deemed to harm 'public order' or 'morality' (Section 22(a)).

Telecommunications Law Amended: The Telecommunications Law was amended, reducing the maximum prison sentence for some offenses but retaining a controversial clause (Article 66(d)) restricting freedom of speech.

Telecommunications Law Enacted: The Telecommunications Law was enacted, prohibiting the transmission of messages or information contrary to existing laws or detrimental to public order or morality (Section 77(a)).

Internet Censorship Classification and Pornography Blocking: OpenNet Initiative classified internet censorship as selective in political and internet tools areas, substantial in social, and no evidence of filtering in conflict/security. Pornography remained widely blocked.

Electronic Transactions Law Enacted: The Electronic Transactions Law was enacted, broadly prohibiting the creation, modification, distribution, or use of computer data for unlawful acts or causing damage (Section 33(a)).

Internet Law Issued: The Internet Law was issued by the SPDC, prohibiting the posting of writings that are harmful to state interests.

Computer Science Development Law Passed: The Computer Science Development Law was passed, criminalizing the distribution, transfer, or acquisition of information that undermines state security, national solidarity, and culture.

Memorandum on Censorship Issued: The Memorandum to all Printers and Publishers Concerning the Submission of Manuscripts for Scrutiny was issued, explicitly listing 'pornographic in nature' content for censorship.

Direct Media Censorship Began: Direct media censorship officially began, as stated by Tint Swe, head of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRB).

Printers and Publishers Registration Law Enacted: The Printers and Publishers Registration Law was enacted, requiring all printers and publishers to register and submit copies of their publications for scrutiny.

Penal Code Enacted: The Penal Code was enacted, containing general provisions against obscenity (Sections 292-294 address the sale, distribution, possession, and public display of obscene materials and acts).