Myanmar junta escalates internet censorship to unprecedented levels during national elections, new report finds

Mizzima

A new report from Human Rights Myanmar (HRM) and the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) says Myanmar’s junta sharply increased internet censorship during the 2025–26 elections. The report found that the junta blocked most public attempts to access independent news websites, severely restricting information about the electoral process.

The study states that the military used internet infrastructure as a “cornerstone” of its election strategy by systematically obstructing public access to independent media outlets during the campaign period.

Researchers found that, during the election period, attempts to access major independent media websites were blocked 93 percent of the time, a notable increase from 79 percent before the campaign. This shows a substantial ramp-up in censorship when compared to pre-campaign conditions.

The report identifies censorship as a central tool in the junta’s post-coup information control. Restricting news access blocked voters from the information necessary for informed decision-making, according to the authors.

Blocking targeted outlets known for critical reporting on the junta, with websites for major independent outlets such as Myanmar Now, Mizzima, and The Irrawaddy was obstructed over 90 percent of the time. These sites were nearly invisible to domestic audiences without circumvention tools, the report found.

At the same time, outlets perceived as compliant with the junta narrative faced little or no blocking. One example cited in the report maintained an accessibility rate of nearly 100 percent throughout the election period.

Social media platforms – historically a key distribution channel for independent media – were also heavily restricted. Attempts to access Facebook were blocked 98 percent of the time during the election campaign, while attempts to access X and Instagram were blocked 88 percent and 81 percent, respectively.

Researchers say the junta simultaneously targeted virtual private networks (VPNs) and other circumvention tools used by citizens to bypass censorship, creating what the report calls a “double lock strategy” designed to isolate the public from independent reporting.

The study analysed nearly 200,000 network measurements and more than 1.8 million indicators collected across Myanmar between January 2025 and January 2026 to track censorship patterns.

The report concluded that the junta’s blocking practices amounted to a systematic violation of freedom of expression and access to information. It warns that such intense censorship renders the elections neither free nor fair.