"Myanmar: Earthquake shows why freedom of expression must be protected", 2 April 2025

… In the face of these compounding crises, ARTICLE 19 urges the international community to exert diplomatic pressure on the junta to lift internet shutdowns and censorship in the country, support the deployment of emergency communication tools, and back independent media and local responders best able to provide life-saving information at this time. In times of crisis, unrestricted access to information is critical for coordinating relief efforts and protecting lives – restoring it must be a priority alongside humanitarian assistance…

… In Myanmar, the earthquake’s devastation has been compounded by the military junta’s repressive response: blocking information, restricting internet access, and hindering humanitarian aid. The internet and social media restrictions and the blocking of virtual private networks (VPNs) further isolate the affected regions and obscure the true scale of the devastation. The military junta’s ongoing crackdown on independent journalism, and the barring of international media from accessing impacted areas prevent accurate reporting and independent scrutiny…

In many areas, humanitarian actors are unable to assess needs or dispatch aid because digital and physical access continue to be blocked — by damage, repression, or both…

We also urge the international community, donor states, UN agencies, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair Member State, … and the private sector to work in partnership and take the following urgent steps:

1. Exert pressure on the State Administrative Council to lift all censorship measures, including bans on media, VPNs, and social media platforms to protect freedom of expression.
2. Deploy emergency digital infrastructure and support open access tools to bypass firewalls and re-establish communications in blackout zones.
3. Support local journalists and human rights defenders to safely document ongoing crises, including the impacts of climate-related disasters…