According to a new report, in a record year for the Internet shutdown, countries in the Asia-Pacific region imposed the most restrictions.
Myanmar is the worst affected country worldwide, with 85 shutdowns last year, the research by Digital Rights Group Access Now was now found.
Its report released on Monday, 24 February shows officials worldwide that at least 296 shutdowns have been installed in 54 countries. Struggle – Protests, school or university examinations and after elections – was the largest trigger, access was now found.
For the Asia-Pacific region, the report finds 202 shutdowns in 11 countries or regions. This is now the highest number recorded by access to the region in a single year.
Three countries with the worst records are in Asia: 190 cases in Myanmar, India and Pakistan were responsible for about 64% of all recorded shutdowns in 2024.
The VOA contacted the Washington Embassy for India and Pakistan for the military administration of Myanmar, and for Washington. As publication, VOA did not respond.
Raman Jeet Singh Cheema, Asia Pacific Policy Director, In Access Now, warned of the rise of digital officialism in Asia.
“Shutdowns destabilize the society, reduce digital progress, risk the entire communities, and provide impure for human rights violations,” he said in a statement. “Officers from Myanmar to Pakistan are isolating people from the rest of the world, showing increasing digital totalitarianism in Asia.”
Access now collects data on the shutdown, including cable cuts, equipment being seized, platforms, and or orders to telecom companies.
Radio’s ‘rebirth’
Since the seizure of electricity in a coup in February 2021, Junta in Myanmar has regularly blocked access to the Internet. Junta says that the blocks are to maintain “stability” and prevent what it says about disintegration and spread of fake news.
At the same time, Junta put dozens of journalists in jail and canceled media licenses.
Last year, out of the 85 shutdowns installed in Myanmar, 31 coincided with the violation of the human rights documented and at least 17 citizens with an airstrikes, the access was now found in the report.
The report found that this record keeps the country worst for digital rights for the fourth consecutive year.
Tow Zo Lat, an experienced journalist from Myanmar, told the VOA that it was “no surprise” that the country was at the top of the list.
“Myanmar has one of the worst censorship [records] On digital platforms, “Hey said. ,[The military does this] So most people cannot use independent information or internet mainly, especially young people. They just want a version of truth, the version of the truth of the army. ,
Zaw Latt said that Junta is trying to stop “independent access to information on the Internet”.
A journalist for decades, ZO LAT Independent Press Council is a very second of Myanmar. Hey said that internet blocks have seen “rebirth” in radio.
“Globally, the radio is dying, but it is a rebirth in Burma because it is cheap and accessible,” he said, using the former name of the country. “Even people go back, very primitive, thesis back to print due to internet shutdown.”
Nevertheless, ZO LAT said, it is not possible to complete the Internet, “Because people will find a way.”
Along with the shutdown, Junta has passed laws to control the information story.
On 1 January, a cyber security law was implemented in Myanmar, banning the use of virtual private networks, or VPN, people who use to access the blocked or sensor. The law punishes people who share information from restricted websites. Experts say this is another attempt to suppress public information.
Two other Asian Countries – Malaysia and Thailand – so the list was made for the first time for the South East Asia region.
Even after closing the power and internet connection along his border with Thailand Myanmar, after the attempt to tighten the scam centers, who have forcibly wooed thousands of labor and a billion scam from internet users around the world Has done
Overall, the press independence continues to decline in East Asia, according to reporters without any limits. Global Watchdog reports that 26 out of 31 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen a decline in press independence between 2023 and 2024.
