Since seizing power from the elected civilian government, Min Aung Hlaing and co. have been restricting freedoms of speech, expression, and the press. Banning Facebook was part of their agenda. However, for the past three years, people have used VPNs to access social media despite these restrictions. In June, the regime escalated efforts to completely ban VPNs, with the help of Chinese technology and armed soldiers who are willing to violently suppress, arrest, and torture people found with VPN apps on their phones.
Access to social media is vital today, especially with ongoing flood news and clashes in Kachin and northern Shan states, where people depend on it for important information and assistance. Min Aung Hlaing’s crackdown on VPNs not only limits access to information but also threatens lives.
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