22/05/2025
👀 Myanmar’s military has waged an unrelenting crackdown on digital freedom after it seized power more than four years ago.
Human rights observers say nearly 2,000 people have been arrested for criticising the junta online, or posting support for anti-regime groups, since the 2021 coup.
Yesterday, with Myanmar Now, we reported that a leading Myanmar internet service provider appears to have installed sophisticated Chinese technology capable of being used for online surveillance.
No surprise there, perhaps.
But that same company – Frontiir – has received $40m from the British, Danish and Norwegian governments who all own shares in the company.
Our Caroline Henshaw – alongside Aung Naing at Myanmar Now – collected evidence indicating Frontiir has installed equipment capable of tracking people online, blocking websites and preventing people from using virtual private networks (VPNs)
The equipment was developed by Geedge Networks, a controversial Chinese cybersecurity company founded by the so-called father of China’s Great Firewall, Fang Binxing.
Frontiir denied that it had ever “built, planned, or designed anything related to surveillance” on its network, saying any such claims were “completely false.”
Campaigners say international development funds from the UK, Norway and Denmark should scrutinise their investments and “consider imposing sanctions on companies whose operations directly or indirectly benefit the military and to stop technology transfer to those companies.”
Please read the story here 👇🏼
Chinese technology capable of mass surveillance 'installed' by Myanmar internet company funded by UKAuthorsCaroline Henshaw and Aung NaingDate21 May 2025InvestigationExposing the business interests of Myanmar militaryPartnerShareAn internet service provider backed by European state development funds...
