Digital rights violations and telecommunications restrictions remained widespread across Myanmar between May and July, affecting regions controlled by the military junta, revolutionary forces, and ethnic armed organizations, according to a recent report by the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP).
The report highlights that digital repression—including internet blackouts, surveillance, arrests over social media posts, and threats against independent media—severely impacted civilians in Arakan (Rakhine) State, Sagaing Region, and junta-held territories.
In Sagaing Region, local administrative bodies and People's Defence Forces (PDFs) temporarily suspended or restricted Starlink satellite internet services in several townships—including Indaw, Kani, Depayin, Ye-U, and Taze—citing operational security and concerns over junta air raids.
Mobile and internet connectivity also suffered severe disruptions and slowdowns in Sagaing’s Budalin Township and Taunggyi in southern Shan State. Meanwhile, junta-imposed cuts led to widespread Wi-Fi outages across multiple townships in Yangon.
Additionally, the report noted that both the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State and areas administered by the National Unity Government (NUG) began levying taxes on Starlink internet usage in June.
The ongoing connectivity blackouts in Arakan State—spanning both AA-controlled and junta-held areas—have exacerbated youth unemployment and severely restricted access to education and job opportunities.
Frequent freezes on digital financial service accounts have also driven up cash withdrawal fees across the state.
"In some townships, Starlink devices were shut down, and with public internet services scarce, most people face severe hardship," a local Arakanese man told MIP. "Without internet access, receiving information is impossible, making it worse when we cannot know what is happening elsewhere or in our own area. Opportunities for youth are scarce, and many miss out on local prospects due to the lack of connectivity."
MIP emphasized that digital repression isolates civilians from life-saving information regarding natural disasters, active conflict, and military movements. Crucially, internet blackouts prevent residents from receiving timely air raid alerts.
"Even with air raid warning systems in place, we rely on internet access to check them," said a woman in Sagaing Region. "Without alerts, it is impossible to take shelter in advance, making outages far more dangerous. In some areas, people rely on the internet to track advancing junta columns and share safety updates. The moment internet lines drop or slow down, anxiety rises immensely."
During the same period, the military junta revoked the licenses of additional independent news outlets while deepening media cooperation with Chinese state media.
The regime also escalated its online surveillance, arresting and prosecuting citizens for comments posted on social media.
According to regime statements, more than 2,000 people have been arrested and charged for online activities over the past three years.
Furthermore, junta reports revealed that 746 civilians were arrested during checkpoint inspections and overnight guest list checks in junta-controlled territories over a recent two-month period.
