32 young men and women were arrested for criticising the junta online, on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, between 20 May and 20 June 2025.
The arrests happened across the country, according to data compiled by DMG. Nine of the arrested came from Mandalay Region, five came from Yangon Region, three each came from the capital Naypyidaw, Bago and Ayayarwady regions, two each from Arakan (Rakhine) and Mon states and one each from Karen and Shan states and Sagaing and Magway regions.
A resident of Mandalay City said: “Even just sharing a political post comes with this constant fear of who might be watching. These recent arrests show that the junta isn’t just cracking down on freedom of expression, it’s also mentally oppressing the people.”
It remains unclear what the arrested youths will be charged with. But, the junta has warned that anyone accused of inciting unrest or spreading propaganda on social media could be prosecuted under Section 52(A) of the Counter-Terrorism Law; Sections 124(A) and 505(A) of the Penal Code; Section 33(A) of the Electronic Transactions Law; and other existing statutes.
According to human rights activists, the junta has significantly ramped up its use of digital surveillance systems to monitor social media since the February 2021 coup. Between then and the end of April 2025, 1,729 people were arrested as a result of the junta’s digital surveillance efforts, according to the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP), an organisation that says it aims to document the history of the Myanmar internet – past, present and future – by consolidating and amplifying existing research.
The junta has not just increased its surveillance of online activity, it has also ramped up on the ground checks of people’s digital devices.
A young man from Yangon City said to DMG: “Whenever I have to go through a junta checkpoint, soldiers might check my phone. I get chills just thinking they could find something they consider suspicious. Even if there’s nothing on my phone that could cause trouble, those checks still make me feel really anxious.”
The junta has labeled pro-democracy groups like the National Unity Government (NUG), the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), and affiliated organisations as terrorist groups. It has said that it will take action against anyone who promotes them or shares their content on social media.
The junta uses digital surveillance systems to monitor social media posts and then carries out targeted crackdowns and arrests.
