Facebook was banned in Myanmar in February 2021 after the military coup. The ban was put in place by the military junta to suppress communication and organizing by pro-democracy groups. However, the ban has not been completely effective and many people in Myanmar are still finding ways to access Facebook. The situation regarding Facebook’s accessibility in Myanmar remains complex and evolving.
Background of Facebook Ban in Myanmar
Facebook had become extremely popular in Myanmar, with an estimated 20 million users out of a population of about 54 million in early 2021. After the military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power on February 1st 2021, arresting political leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi, it moved to restrict social media and communication apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp.
On February 4th, mobile internet access was cut across the country, stopping people from accessing Facebook and other social media. A week later, on February 15th, access was restored but social media sites including Facebook remained banned. Authorities ordered telecom companies to block access to these platforms indefinitely.
The military claimed they were banned to maintain stability and prevent the spread of misinformation. However, the bans were widely seen as an attempt to suppress opposition and prevent anti-coup protest organization. With Facebook being the main communication channel for many people, the ban made it much harder for protestors to organize and get their message out.
Has the Facebook Ban Been Effective?
The Facebook ban has not fully prevented people from accessing the platform. Many have found ways around it through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent internet blocks. VPNs reroute and encrypt internet traffic, masking users’ locations and allowing them to bypass geographic restrictions.
Despite efforts by the regime to block VPNs as well, their use remains widespread. A survey by the Myanmar-based organization Khit Thit Media published in May 2021 estimated that around 27% of Myanmar’s internet users were successfully bypassing the social media blocks. Other reports suggest the number could be even higher.
However, many ordinary internet users in Myanmar lack the technical knowledge or means to purchase VPN services. So while a sizable amount of Myanmar’s urban, educated population has been able to skirt the restrictions, the vast majority continue to be impacted by the ban.
Ongoing State Surveillance and Arrests
Authorities continue to monitor internet activity closely for any sign of anti-regime organizing on social media. Pervasive state surveillance means those found to be accessing or posting on Facebook risk severe repercussions like arrest, imprisonment and torture.
There have been widespread reports of security forces using informants and digital surveillance tools to track online activity on banned platforms. Even liking or sharing anti-coup posts on social media can result in harsh punishment.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), over 14,000 people have been arrested since the coup for online activities like spreading “negative comments” or posting on social media. Harsh prison sentences for accessing Facebook have become commonplace as part of the junta’s crackdown on dissent.
Facebook’s Response
Facebook has made some attempts to push back against the platform’s ban in Myanmar. In February 2021, shortly after the ban was imposed, Facebook announced it would be treating the regime as an illegitimate government. Facebook said it would be preserving online evidence of human rights abuses being organized and documented on its platform.
The company also stated it had taken technical steps to protect users from being surveilled by the regime when accessing Facebook via VPN or other workarounds. These included techniques like IP obfuscation, which hides a user’s IP address and location.
However, Facebook has faced ongoing criticism that it is not doing enough to help people in Myanmar regain access to what has become an essential communications channel. While it has implemented anti-surveillance measures, these require users to enable specialized settings which not all are aware of. Calls for Facebook to do more like financing VPNs for Myanmar users have not been heeded.
The Regime Maintains Tight Control Over the Internet
Despite the persistence of workarounds like VPNs, the military regime maintains extremely tight control over the internet in Myanmar. In addition to bans on specific platforms like Facebook, the junta has ordered nationwide shutdowns of mobile data networks amid anti-coup protests and periods of unrest. Longer-term slowdowns of internet speeds also make accessing any online services extremely difficult.
Authorities have enacted new cybersecurity laws criminalizing the spread of “misinformation” online. The military now has sweeping powers to block websites and services without oversight if it deems their content threatening to its rule. Users face heavy prison sentences for posting material critical of the regime.
Ongoing infrastructure disruptions, increased mobile data costs and frequent service blackouts across Myanmar have made accessing any information through the internet prohibitively expensive and difficult for those without technical expertise. All these measures severely limit the ability of citizens to use social media freely.
Future Prospects for Facebook Access
The outlook for Facebook being unbanned in Myanmar remains bleak. For now, the military junta maintains firm control of the country and has given no indication of lifting restrictions on social media platforms. If anything, authorities have only expanded their blocks on communication channels and online activity in recent months.
Given Facebook’s importance as a tool for collective action and spreading anti-coup narratives, the regime sees the platform as a direct threat to its rule. Some groups like the United Nations have called on authorities to lift all social media blocks. However, substantive international pressure on the junta remains limited.
Unless the military rulers have a drastic change of course or are removed from power, it appears likely the Facebook ban will remain in place indefinitely. The #LetUsBackOnFacebook campaign advocates for restoring access to the platform but has had little visible impact so far. For the millions in Myanmar who relied on it for crucial communication and business activities, the prospect of Facebook access remains elusive.
Impacts of the Facebook Ban in Myanmar
The blockade on Facebook has had significant impacts across Myanmar society since it began in February 2021. Some of the major effects include:
Restrictions on Free Speech and Organizing
The Facebook ban has severely hampered the ability of pro-democracy groups, activists and civil society to communicate and coordinate efforts online. With the platform inaccessible, sharing information on protests and military abuses has become much more difficult. This has helped the regime control narratives and weakened resistance.
Economic Hardships for Businesses Reliant on Facebook
Many businesses in Myanmar used Facebook for sales, marketing and customer engagement. With the ban in place, these economic activities have been disrupted. Business pages and e-commerce stores on Facebook became inaccessible overnight, causing significant financial hardship.
Loss of Access to Information Services
Key government agencies and health information providers used Facebook to share vital public announcements and updates on COVID-19. With the platform blocked, timely access to this information has declined. Misinformation has also proliferated in the absence of reliable official and news sources on Facebook.
Social Impacts from Loss of Communication Channel
For many in Myanmar, Facebook was their main tool for staying in touch with family and friends. Social connections have suffered with people no longer able to use what was the country’s dominant messaging and social media app. This has led to a growing sense of isolation for many.
Psychological Distress Linked to Missing Major News Source
A survey conducted in mid-2021 found that nearly half of Myanmar Facebook users reported feeling anxious, sad or depressed because of being unable to access the platform. For many, being cut off from vital news and information sources has taken a psychological toll.
| Impact | Description |
|---|---|
| Restrictions on free speech and organizing | Severely hampered ability of pro-democracy groups, activists and civil society to communicate and coordinate online |
| Economic hardship for businesses | Disrupted sales, marketing and customer engagement activities reliant on Facebook |
| Loss of access to information services | Decline in access to vital public announcements and COVID-19 updates from government and health agencies |
| Social impacts | Damaged social connections and sense of isolation due to loss of main communications platform |
| Psychological distress | Anxiety, sadness and depression linked to missing major news and information source |
Ways People Are Bypassing the Facebook Ban
Despite the junta’s restrictions, many tech-savvy Myanmar citizens have found ways to circumvent the Facebook ban. Some of the main methods include:
Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPNs are the most common workaround, allowing users to mask their internet traffic and location. Popular VPN services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have seen a spike in downloads in Myanmar. However, VPN use requires installing apps which not all Facebook users have managed to access or understand.
Accessing Facebook Through Proxies
Web proxies and services like Psiphon also help people bypass geographic blocks, although these tools are more complex to use than commercial VPNs. Proxy networks divert internet connection through servers in locations without restrictions to unlock social media sites.
Using Third-Party Mirror Sites and Apps
Some mirror websites and apps replicating Facebook’s services have popped up for users in Myanmar. For example, the website fastfacebook.com acts as a proxy mirror of Facebook. However, these often offer limited functionality compared to the full Facebook platform.
Shifting to Alternative Platforms
With Facebook blocked, many users have shifted to other social media platforms not banned like Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. Tech-savvy young people in particular have moved their online activities to these apps, although none offer the same breadth of features and audience as Facebook.
| Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| VPNs | Masks internet traffic and location allowing access to banned sites like Facebook |
| Web proxies | Reroutes internet connection through unblocked servers to access blocked platforms |
| Mirror sites and apps | Replicates parts of Facebook’s services via proxy sites and alternative apps |
| Alternative platforms | Switches user activity to other social media sites not currently blocked like Twitter |
Conclusion
In summary, the Facebook ban enacted by Myanmar’s military regime in February 2021 remains in effect nearly two years later. However, it has not been comprehensively successful. A sizable fraction of Myanmar’s internet-savvy population has managed to bypass restrictions using technical workarounds like VPNs.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of ordinary Facebook users in Myanmar are likely still blocked off from the platform which has become inaccessible and dangerous to access openly. The junta maintains stringent monitoring and control over the internet, enacting harsh penalties for those found circumventing the Facebook blockade.
Given its central role in disseminating anti-coup narratives, Facebook is seen as a major threat by the regime who is unlikely to lift the ban anytime soon. With authorities retaining a tight grip on power and expanding limitations on online activity, the prospects for restoring Facebook access for Myanmar’s citizens in the near future remain bleak.