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27 Feb 2023

Myanmar: Access Now statement calls out companies for allegedly helping junta build an attack & surveillance infrastructure; incl. company statements

Access Now released a statement alleging that the Myanmar "military continues to build and implement a complex attack and surveillance infrastructure with the help of private businesses."

The statement cited Cognyte Software Ltd, alleging that the company "won a tender to sell intercept spyware to a state-backed telecommunications firm in Myanmar."

Online, the statement alleged, people are "subjected to constant surveillance, doxxing, rampant discriminatory hatred, and violent incitement." It stated that "[a]ctors inciting hate primarily use Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram, and easily reestablish accounts and online followings if and when companies finally remove their content."

Further, the statement alleged that freedom of movement in the country is severely restricted. "Closed circuit television (CCTV) systems with facial recognition technology are now in at least ten cities [...]. These CCTVs are being sold by Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, and Hikvision".

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies cited in the statement to respond to the allegations. Only Hikvision, Meta/Facebook, and TikTok responded. Their responses are linked below.

Company Responses

Meta (formerly Facebook) View Response
TikTok (part of ByteDance) View Response
Cognyte Software Ltd

No Response

YouTube (part of Alphabet)

No Response

Telegram

No Response

Dahua Technology

No Response

Huawei

No Response

Hikvision View Response

Timeline