Image: Myanmar Internet Project
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 to:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Pressure the junta to end restrictions on public access to information and media freedom as per international access to information and media protocols.
Support emergency connectivity solutions to bypass internet shutdowns through local groups and ensure that affected communities can communicate.
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:
5/ of Zaya State Strike
A-Yar-Taw People Strike
Access Now
Activate Rights ( Bangladesh)
Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs
All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
Alternatives (Montreal)
Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Association Suisse-Birmanie
Athan - Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
Ayeyarwady Youth Network
Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
Burma Academy
Burma Podcast Network
CAN - Myanmar
CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
Centre for Independent Journalism (Malaysia)
Central European Institute of Asian Studies
Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
Civil Information Network (CIN)
Coalition for Democracy (C4D)
Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
Data Ethnics PH
Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
Defend Myanmar Democracy-DMD
Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
DigiSec Lab
Digital Rights Collective
Doh Ayay
EngageMedia
Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
Exile Hub
FORUMVERT
Foundation for Media Alternatives
General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
Generation Wave
Global Voices
GMSR Korea 글로벌 미얀마 봄혁명 연대 -တကမ္ဘာလုံးဆိုင်ရာ မြန်မာ့နွေဦးတော်လှန်ရေး
Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
Info Birmanie
JCA-NET(Japan)
Kachin Student Union
Kalay Township Strike Force
Kanbalu Strike Committee
KengTung Youth Network
Korea University Law School International Human Rights Clinic
Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet
Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
Kyauk Padaung Youth Network
Kyaukse Youth Network
Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
LGBT Alliance
Magway People’s Revolution Committee
Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
Mandalay Regional Youth Network
Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
Manushya Foundation
MayMyo Strike Force
Miaan Group
Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
Myanmar Fact Checking Network (MFCN)
Myanmar Internet Project
Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
Myanmar Studies Center at Palacky University
Myanmar Tourism Committee
Myaung Education Network
Myaung Youth Network
Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
Narrative Power
National Youth Congress (NYC)
New Rehmonnya Federated Force
Nyan Corridor
Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
Nyaung Oo Youth Network
Nyimuyar Initiative
OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
Open Net (Korea)
Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
PEN America
Pollicy
Public Virtue Research Institute
Purple Window Counselling
Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)
Shwe Pan Kone People`s Strike Steering Committee
South East Asia Collaborative Policy Network (SEA CPN)
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
Southern Monitor
Spring Revolution Security
Spring Sprouts
Spring University Myanmar
Ta'ang Women's Organization _TWO
Tanintharyi Youth Network (TYN)
Taze Strike Committee
Tech Global Institute
The Red Flag
U.S. Campaign for Burma
University of Medicine Mandalay Students' Union Revolution Front (UMMSURF)
University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
WHAT TO FIX
Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
Women’s Peace Network (WPN)
Women Of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
Viet Tan
Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
Youth Development Institute (YDI)
1 Undisclosed organization (due to security concern)
Kurdistan without Genocide
Organization of the Justice Campaign
Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan
TEDIC, Paraguay
May First Movement Technology