Since the military coup in February 2021, the junta in Myanmar has been taking significant steps of digital suppression to control the flow of information and silence dissent. These include targeting social media platforms, especially Facebook, news websites, and civil society organization websites and implementing programs to monitor online communications and track user locations. In June 2024, the junta introduced a more sophisticated web surveillance and censorship system, which indicates a further tightening of its digital grip.
According to a report published by Justice For Myanmar (JFM), the junta has utilized a recently implemented system that uses Tiangou Secure Gateway (TSG) and Cyber Narrator, provided by Jizhi (Hainan) Information Technology Company Limited, also known as Geedge Networks, a Chinese private network security and intelligence equipment and solutions company. TSG acts as an extensive internet traffic inspector, performing deep packet inspection and scrutinizing the data packets flowing through the network. It boasts the ability to bypass encryption protocols (SSL/TLS) used for secure communication, potentially compromising user privacy, and analyse user behaviour based on captured metadata even when decryption is not possible. Additionally, TSG can function as an application firewall with the power to restrict access to over 1,000 applications based on predefined criteria. Cyber Narrator monitors and analyses traffic to identify potential threats. It profiles network entities (applications, IP addresses, users) and flags activities deemed suspicious, such as using a VPN.
Geedge Networks, a Chinese company founded in 2018, has ties to the Chinese government, with its founder being credited as the “father” of China’s Great Firewall. Additionally, Geedge Networks aligns itself with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, of which Myanmar is a part. This shows a broader involvement of a company linked to China’s censorship infrastructure. Mascots Group, a Myanmar company led by Win Kyaw, acts as a broker for the junta, facilitating deals with another Chinese company, China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) which is reportedly implementing a location tracking system for the junta. It’s noteworthy that CEIEC is a Chinese state-owned company and that both Geedge Networks’ founder and CEIEC’s parent company share the same leader. Subsequently, Mascots Group has launched a “whitelisted” social media platform (MySpace Myanmar), which is fully under junta control, on April 27.
What this means for businesses operating in Myanmar is that they will be pressured to comply with the junta’s directives regarding website blocking and internet shutdowns. They will likely face restricted access due to internet limitations and potential data security vulnerabilities, which is expected to further cripple e-commerce and online business models. Myanmar’s nascent digital economy could be stunted as innovation and foreign investment become discouraged. Consumers accustomed to online shopping and social media may either find ways to circumvent the censorship, taking risks or shift spending habits. Crackdowns on social media platforms could severely limit communication channels for businesses to reach customers. Marketing and customer engagement strategies heavily reliant on social media might need an overhaul. Internal companies present in Myanmar might struggle to comply with international or their home country’s regulations and the junta’s data restrictions. Resisting could lead to operational difficulties and worse, legal scrutiny. A climate of digital suppression could also discourage skilled professionals in the tech sector from working in Myanmar, exacerbating local talent drain at a mass scale.
