On Wednesday Myanmar announced its new proposed cyber-security laws, allowing it to ban content it dislikes, restrict internet providers and intercept data. The proposal outline contains 36 pages, which were given to mobile operators and telecoms license holders for comment. However, spokespeople for the government or the telecommunications ministry were unavailable for comment. The document has not yet been verified, although it has been widely circulated in Myanmar.
A statement, which was signed by more than 150 organisation says: “The so-called bill includes clauses which violate human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, data protection and privacy, and other democratic principles and human rights in the online space.” The aim of the proposed law includes protecting the public and preventing crimes or the use of technology to harm the state. Content that Internet providers may have to prevent or remove includes content that could “cause hatred, destroy unity and tranquility” to be “untruthful news” or anything deemed inappropriate to Myanmar’s culture.
