A joint investigation conducted by Finance Uncovered (FU) and Myanmar Now (MN) alleged that a Yangon-based Internet Service Provider Frontiir “has installed equipment capable of tracking people online, blocking websites and preventing people from using virtual private networks (VPNs) which allow users to side-step censorship controls.” The investigation’s findings were the result of evidence collection from multiple sources.

According to the FU and MN, Frontiir is “backed by European state development funds in military-run Myanmar appears to have installed highly sophisticated Chinese technology that information gathered by reporters indicates is being used for online surveillance.” The investigation also revealed that the Geedge Networks developed the equipment. Geedge Networks are a Chinese cybersecurity company founded by the so-called father of China’s Great Firewall.

However, Frontiir denied the allegations, with support from its European investors, with their comments available in the article while Geedge did not respond to repeated requests for comments.