Up to six months in prison and fines of up to 2 million kyats (almost $1,000). This is what people in Myanmar now face when using a VPN service without approval after a controversial new cybersecurity law was enacted on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
According to the military junta, the new law aims to “prevent cyber attacks using electronic technology that threaten national sovereignty, peace and stability, as well as effectively investigate and bring charges against cyber crimes,” according to Radio Free Asia.
However, experts are concerned about the implications for citizens’ digital rights, such as online privacy, freedom of expression and access to information.
The internet in Myanmar has been under strict control following the 2021 coup. Social media platforms, along with independent and international media, are blocked, making using the best VPN apps a necessity to stay connected and access to free information.
Digital rights under siege
As mentioned, legal experts and digital rights groups have warned against the risk the new law poses to people’s digital freedoms.
Speaking to Radio Free Asia, for example, one legal expert suggests there should be a limit to the authorities’ ability to monitor citizens’ online activities.
“The VPN law is being misused to control public narratives. The Board is more interested in restricting the flow of independent information rather than focusing solely on legitimate cybersecurity concerns,” another legal expert from Mawlamyine city told a group local human rights.
Beyond VPNs, the 16-chapter, 88-article cybersecurity law also criminalizes other online activities, such as online fraud, illegal gambling, and unauthorized financial transactions. Here prison sentences can range between two and seven years.
The military regime activated the Cybersecurity Law on Wednesday, imposing up to six months in prison or fines of between 1 million and 10 million kyats (between US$475 and $4,750) for establishing virtual private network (VPN) connections or providing VPN services without permission. #What’s happening in Myanmar pic.twitter.com/4Wo6s2aOIHJanuary 2, 2025
Myanmar’s new law appears to be the final act of the junta’s work to prevent citizens from using virtual private network (VPN) apps to bypass government-imposed online restrictions.
In June last year we reported how a VPN ban imposed in Myanmar plunged citizens into online darkness in May. Most VPN services stopped working, and soldiers also reportedly inspected random pedestrians’ phones for illegal VPN apps.
At the same time, Myanmar was among the nations hardest hit by internet shutdowns and social media blocks in 2024. According to the most recent data, Myanmar suffered the longest with a total of 20,376 hours of online blocking during the 12 months, which affected 23.7 million people. .
What is certain now is that the new law makes it even more difficult for ordinary citizens to combat daily online restrictions without legal repercussions.
