Joint statement: Myanmar must lift internet restrictions following devastating earthquake

Por:
01 de abril, 2025

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the Myanmar military for continuing to impose communication blackouts, including internet shutdowns, following Myanmar’s worst earthquake in history. We call for restrictions on internet services, including social media platforms and news media websites, to be immediately lifted. 

​On March 28, 2025, Myanmar experienced a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in the country’s history, impacting at least 67 townships. The epicenter was in Sagaing city, near Mandalay, the central part of the country. The most affected areas include Sagaing, Mandalay, and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw. The death toll has risen to more than 2,000 as of March 31 and continues to climb.

However, despite this dire situation and the urgent need for emergency rescue efforts to save those trapped under the rubble, as of this announcement — more than 48 hours after the earthquake — the Myanmar military has still not lifted its internet shutdown orders and various internet restrictions, which are essential for coordinating live-saving emergency responses.  

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Myanmar military’s ongoing crackdown on communication services following such a devastating disaster, showing a blatant disregard for the threat imposed on civilian lives. We demand the immediate and unconditional restoration of internet and communications services to ensure full access, as well as the lifting of any restrictions on people’s rights to information. We call on the military to be held accountable for all loss of life and suffering caused by these various internet restrictions.

Since they took power four years ago, the junta has proved itself to be one of the world’s worst abusers of digital repressions. Based on the data collected by Myanmar digital rights groups, the military’s internet shutdowns orders have impacted over 100 townships, representing almost a third of the country, including the areas most severely affected by the recent earthquake. In addition, the “firewall” system installed by the junta in 2024 continues to block access to all major social media, news sites and other public information sources, even restricting the use of VPNs. This forces people to search for open VPNs, even in this dire moment. Combined with power outages and damage to telecommunications infrastructure caused by the earthquake, people in Myanmar are facing unprecedented communications disruptions. Moreover, the various restrictions imposed on people’s access to information since 2021, including revoking newspapers licenses, blocking many news websites, arresting and killing  journalists, are now obstructing real-time information on the earthquake’s impact, delaying rescue efforts and contributing to preventable deaths.

We condemn the military and its actions in the strongest possible terms, and demand the following from Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing and his forces:  

  1. Restore internet access immediately across the country. Cutting off connectivity in the wake of a humanitarian crisis is a deliberate act of harm. All remaining internet shutdowns must be lifted now.
  2. Lift all internet censorship measures, including the “firewall” systems on internet gateways, which force people to rely on VPNs that slow down already limited bandwidth, disturbing rescue efforts where every second counts.
  3. End all restrictions on media and media freedom. Immediately lift any restrictions on journalists and stop disrupting their work via measures such as threats and arrests.
  4. Stop all military oppression immediately and unconditionally, including forced conscription, arbitrary arrests, executions, threats, and airstrikes. These actions have hindered emergency relief efforts and caused the loss of more lives.
  5. The military council must take full accountability for imposing internet shutdowns and restricting public access to information during the earthquake. These actions not only disrupted the flow of critical information but also led to preventable deaths by hindering timely rescue efforts. The loss of lives and widespread suffering caused by these deliberate restrictions are solely the responsibility of the military council.

We call on the international community, governments, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and tech companies to

  1. Pressure the junta to lift any ongoing internet shutdowns and internet restrictions so that people can seek urgent help and communicate with the outside world.
  2. Pressure the junta to end restrictions on public access to information and media freedom as per international access to information and media protocols.
  3. Support emergency connectivity solutions to bypass internet shutdowns through local groups and ensure that affected communities can communicate.
  4. Ensure that emergency aid, including support with emergency communication, does not fall into military hands to be misused and abused as a tool for oppression.

 Restore internet access now — before countless more people perish needlessly. 

Signatories 

A collective of Myanmar, regional, and international digital rights organizations

Contact: 

Htaike Htaike Aung (Myanmar Internet Project) – htaike@myanmarinternet.info

Wai Phyo Myint (Access Now) – waiphyo@accessnow.org

Eupoke (Athan) – eupoke@athanmm.org

List of signatories: 

  1. 5/ of Zaya State Strike
  2. A-Yar-Taw People Strike
  3. Access Now
  4. Activate Rights ( Bangladesh)
  5. Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs
  6. Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI)
  7. All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
  8. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
  9. Alternatives (Montreal)
  10. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
  11. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
  12. AFCC Anti Junta Force Coordination Committee
  13. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC)
  14. Asociación Ciudad ViVa
  15. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
  16. Association Suisse-Birmanie
  17. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
  18. Ayeyarwady Youth Network
  19. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
  20. Burma Academy
  21. Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS)
  22. Burma Podcast Network
  23. CAN – Myanmar
  24. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
  25. Centre for Independent Journalism (Malaysia)
  26. Center for Information Technology and Development (Nigeria)
  27. Central European Institute of Asian Studies
  28. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
  29. Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
  30. Civil Information Network (CIN)
  31. Coalition for Democracy (C4D)
  32. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
  33. Cooperativa Sulá Batsú (Costa Rica)
  34. Data Ethnics PH
  35. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
  36. Defend Myanmar Democracy-DMD
  37. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
  38. Derechos Digitales
  39. DigiSec Lab
  40. Digital Rights Collective
  41. Doh Ayay
  42. EngageMedia
  43. EsLaRed
  44. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
  45. Exile Hub
  46. Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria)
  47. FORUMVERT
  48. Foundation for Media Alternatives
  49. Free Press Unlimited
  50. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
  51. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
  52. Generation Wave
  53. Global Voices
  54. GMSR Korea 글로벌 미얀마 봄혁명 연대 -တကမ္ဘာလုံးဆိုင်ရာ မြန်မာ့နွေဦးတော်လှန်ရေး
  55. GreenNet
  56. Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
  57. Info Birmanie
  58. JCA-NET(Japan)
  59. Jokkolabs Banjul (Gambia)
  60. Kachin Student Union
  61. Kalay Township Strike Force
  62. Kanbalu Strike Committee
  63. KengTung Youth Network
  64. KICTANet
  65. Korea University Law School International Human Rights Clinic
  66. Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet
  67. Kurdistan without Genocide
  68. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
  69. Kyauk Padaung Youth Network
  70. Kyaukse Youth Network
  71. LaborNET
  72. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
  73. LaLibre.net Tecnologías Comunitarias
  74. LGBT Alliance
  75. Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan
  76. Mandalay CDM Organization
  77. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
  78. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
  79. Mandalay Regional Youth Network
  80. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
  81. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
  82. Manushya Foundation
  83. MayMyo Strike Force
  84. May First Movement Technology
  85. Miaan Group
  86. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
  87. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
  88. MATA Saging
  89. Myanmar Fact Checking Network (MFCN)
  90. Myanmar Internet Project
  91. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
  92. Myanmar Studies Center at Palacky University
  93. Myanmar Tourism Committee
  94. Myaung Education Network 
  95. Myaung Youth Network
  96. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
  97. Narrative Power
  98. National Youth Congress (NYC)
  99. New Rehmonnya Federated Force
  100. Nyan Corridor
  101. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
  102. Nyaung Oo Youth Network
  103. Nyimuyar Initiative
  104. OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
  105. Open Net (Korea)
  106. Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
  107. Organization of the Justice Campaign
  108. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
  109. PEN America
  110. Pollicy
  111. PROTEGE QV
  112. Public Virtue Research Institute
  113. Purple Window Counselling
  114. Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
  115. Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)
  116. Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad A.C.
  117. Rhizomatica
  118. Right2Know Campaign (South Africa)
  119. Shwe Pan Kone People`s Strike Steering Committee
  120. Sinar Project
  121. Sisters 2 Sisters
  122. South East Asia Collaborative Policy Network (SEA CPN)
  123. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
  124. Southern Monitor
  125. Spring Revolution Security
  126. Spring Sprouts
  127. Spring University Myanmar
  128. Sursiendo (Mexico)
  129. SynergyWORKS Africa
  130. Ta’ang Women’s Organization _TWO
  131. Taller de Comunicacion Mujer
  132. Tanintharyi Youth Network (TYN)
  133. Taze Strike Committee
  134. Tech Global Institute
  135. TEDIC Paraguay
  136. The Peace Centre (South Africa)
  137. The Red Flag
  138. UMass Lowell Myanmar Students Club
  139. U.S. Campaign for Burma
  140. University of Medicine Mandalay Students’ Union Revolution Front (UMMSURF)
  141. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
  142. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
  143. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
  144. WHAT TO FIX
  145. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
  146. Women’s Peace Network (WPN)
  147. Women Of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
  148. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
  149. Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
  150. Viet Tan 
  151. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
  152. Youth Development Institute (YDI)
  153. Zaina Foundation
  154. မန်းတိုင်းစုံစည်းရာ
  155. အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
  156. 2 Undisclosed organization (due to security concern)

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