Friday, April 2, 2021

Myanmar cuts wireless internet amid coup protests

Myanmar’s wireless internet servers were shut down on Friday by the order of the military. A directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications instructed on Thursday that all wireless data services be suspended until further notice. As we can see the protestors are continuing to defy the threat of lethal violence to oppose the military coup. This internet shut down was in addition to previous weeks of overnight cutoff to internet access along with reduced speeds on those using fiberoptic cables. The government shut down all but a small amount of military-run media outlets. Facebook has stepped up against this internet shutdown and has started to provide a safety feature to enable users in Myanmar to enhance their security settings and prevent access from non-friends. Facebook and other major social media platforms have also banned members of the Myanmar military and are blocking ads from military-linked commercial sites. In addition, Myanmar’s military has forcibly disappeared hundreds of people including politicians, elected officials, journalists, activists, and protestors without access to lawyers or even revealing their locations.  




Reese McMullen

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