UN Human Rights Experts condemns Myanmar’s military digital dictatorship

‘The international community must not stand quietly by while the people of Myanmar are systematically denied their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy, which are guaranteed by international human rights law’ highlighted a  statement by UN human rights experts Mr Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Ms Irene Khan, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression, Dr Ana Brian Nougrères, special rapporteur on the right to privacy, and Mr Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association,  condemning the Myanmar military junta’s attempts to establish a digital dictatorship by imposing further restrictions such as on access to the internet, internet shutdowns, online censorship, and surveillance.

In their statement, the experts further said, ‘Online access to information is a matter of life and death for many people in Myanmar, including those seeking safety from indiscriminate attacks by the military and the millions trying to navigate a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis. The junta is using internet shutdowns and invasive surveillance to undermine widespread public opposition and prop up its attacks on the people of Myanmar.’