Censorship in Myanmar

During the reign of King Mindon Min of Burma's last dynasty, the Konbaung dynasty, the country had one of the freest presses in Asia. The Seventeen Articles, passed in 1873 safeguarded freedom of the press.

In 1878, after Lower Burma was annexed by the United Kingdom, the Vernacular Press Act was passed, which attempted to repress propaganda against the British government in local language newspapers. In 1898, the Criminal Procedure Code allowed the government to convict people for treason and sedition on grounds of disseminating false information against the state. Soon after, in 1908, the Unlawful Associations Act, was enacted to further stifle freedom of expression.{{cite journal |last1=Ikeya |first1=Chie |author-link=Chie Ikeya | date=November 2008 |title=The Modern Burmese Woman and the Politics of Fashion in Colonial Burma |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |publisher=Cambridge University Press |volume=67 |issue=4 |pages=1277–1308 |doi=10.1017/S0021911808001782 |s2cid=145697944 }}

The Official Secrets Act was passed in 1923, which makes it unlawful for any person to possess classified information from the state. A decade later, the Burma Wireless Telegraphy Act was passed, criminalising possession of telegraphs without government permission. However, there were numerous publications in circulation during the colonial era, with a steady increase. In 1911, there were 44 periodicals and newspapers in circulation, and 103 in 1921. By the end of the 1930s, there were over 200 newspapers and periodicals in circulation, double the amount in 1921.

Burma gained independence in 1948. The Constitution of the Union of Burma (1947) guaranteed freedom of expression, guaranteeing the "liberties of thought and expression".{{cite web|url=http://english.dvb.no/e_docs/511947_con.htm |title=The Constitution of the Union of Burma |access-date=7 July 2006 |year=1947 |publisher=Democratic Voice for Burma |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615072018/http://english.dvb.no/e_docs/511947_con.htm |archive-date=15 June 2006 |url-status=dead}} Two years later, the Emergency Provisions Act, which criminalised the spreading of false news knowingly and the slandering of civil servants and military officials was enacted. Despite the law, in the 1950s, Burma had one of the freest presses in Asia, with 30 daily newspapers (in Burmese, Chinese, English, and Indian languages).{{cite web

|url=http://english.dvb.no/e_docs/521974_con.htm

|title=The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

|access-date=10 January 2007

|year=1974

|work=Printing and Publishing Corporation, Rangoon

|publisher=Democratic Voice for Burma

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207132545/http://english.dvb.no/e_docs/521974_con.htm

|archive-date=7 December 2006

|url-status=dead

}}

After the military coup d'état by Ne Win in 1962, the Printers and Publishers Registration Law was enacted. This law, still in function, requires all printers and publishers to register and submit copies of their publications to the Press Scrutiny Board, under the Ministry of Home and Religious Affairs (now under the Ministry of Information). In 1975, the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1975), Article 157, ensured "freedom of speech, expression and publication to the extent that the enjoyment of such freedom is not contrary to the interests of the working people and of socialism."

The Memorandum to all Printers and Publishers Concerning the Submission of Manuscripts for Scrutiny was issued by the Printers and Publishers Central Registration Board. It gave explicit guidelines on materials that would be censored, including those whose contents were injurious to the Burmese socialist program, the state ideology, the socialist economy, national unity, security, peace and public order, pornographic in nature, libelous, slanderous, or critical of the national government. That same year, the State Protection Law was issued, allowing authorities to imprison any persons who have been suspected of being a threat to national peace. This law has been the basis for the arrests of many journalists and writers.

After a military coup d'état, led by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), in 1988, martial law orders were quickly issued, banning public gatherings, banning activities, publications, and speeches aimed at dividing the Armed Forces, and criminalising the publication of documents without registration with the state. Martial law orders have since been repealed.

In 1996, several laws were passed to control further dissemination of information in Burma. These include the Law Protecting the Peaceful and Systematic Transfer of State Responsibility and the Successful Performance of the Functions of the National Convention against Disturbances and Oppositions, which prohibits activities aimed at destroying peace, stability, law and order. In addition, it illegalised acts of demeaning the National Convention. Media laws including the Television and Video Act, which requires owners of media players (including televisions, satellites, and videocassette recorders) to obtain licenses from the Ministry of Communications, Posts, and Telegraphs and instituted Video Censorship Boards on domestic-produced videos, and the Motion Picture Law, which requires licenses issued by the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise in making films were passed.{{cite book |url=http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/burma-beyond-law.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120120062220/http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/burma-beyond-law.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-01-20 |title=Burma: Beyond the Law |access-date=11 January 2007 |last=Venkateswaran |first=KS |date=August 1996 |publisher=Article 19 |isbn=1-870798-28-7 }}

Films are subject to censorship by the Motion Picture Censor Board. In addition, The Computer Science Development Law was passed. Under this law, all computer equipment must be approved by the Ministry of Communications, Posts, and Telegraphs. In addition, the distribution, transfer, or acquisition of information that undermines state security, national solidarity and culture, is a criminal offence. SLORC, in 1997, renamed itself the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). In 2000, the Internet Law, which prohibits posting of writings that are harmful to state interests, was issued by SPDC. Foreign news has also been censored by the government. British Broadcasting Corporation and Voice of America radio broadcasts were jammed, beginning in 1995. Foreign reporters are discouraged from reporting from Myanmar, and are regularly denied entry.

The period saw a number of high-profile journalist arrests, such as Aung Pwint, who was jailed in 1999 for fax-machine ownership and "sending news" to banned papers.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6033-2004Nov22.html |title=Heroes of Press Freedom |date=23 November 2004 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://cpj.org/awards/2004/burmese.php |title=CPJ International Press Freedom Awards 2004 |year=2004 |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |access-date=1 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110531044048/http://www.cpj.org/awards/2004/burmese.php| archive-date= 31 May 2011 | url-status= live}} In 2008, Myanmar Nation editor Thet Zin was arrested for having a copy of a UN human rights report.{{cite magazine|last=Packer |first=George |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker/2009/11/committee-to-protect-journalists.html |title=Annual Reminder: Some Journalism Deserves Respect! |magazine=The New Yorker |date=30 November 2009 |access-date=3 December 2012}} In July 2014, five journalists were jailed for ten years after publishing a report accusing the government of planning to build a new chemical weapons plant. Journalists described the jailings as a blow to recently-won news media freedoms that had followed five decades of censorship and persecution.{{cite news |title=Report on chemical weapons earn Myanmar journalists jail term with hard labour |url=http://www.myanmarnews.net/index.php/sid/223727241/scat/c3891022f175b678/ht/Report-on-chemical-weapons-earn-Myanmar-journalists-jail-term-with-hard-labour |date=11 July 2014 |access-date=11 July 2014 |work=Myanmar News.Net |publisher=Mainstream Media EC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714194001/http://www.myanmarnews.net/index.php/sid/223727241/scat/c3891022f175b678/ht/Report-on-chemical-weapons-earn-Myanmar-journalists-jail-term-with-hard-labour |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}

{{main article |Internet censorship in Myanmar}}

Internet censorship in Burma is classified as selective in the political and Internet tools areas, as substantial in social, and as no evidence of filtering in conflict/security by the OpenNet Initiative in August 2012.OpenNet Initiative [http://opennet.net/research/data "Summarized global Internet filtering data spreadsheet"], 29 October 2012 and [http://opennet.net/research/profiles "Country Profiles"], the OpenNet Initiative is a collaborative partnership of the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto; the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University; and the SecDev Group, Ottawa[http://opennet.net/blog/2012/10/update-information-controls-burma "Update on information controls in Burma"], Irene Poetranto, OpenNet Initiative, 23 October 2012 Burma is listed as an Internet enemy by Reporters Without Borders in 2011.[http://march12.rsf.org/i/Internet_Enemies.pdf Internet Enemies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315002153/http://march12.rsf.org/i/Internet_Enemies.pdf |date=15 March 2011 }}, Reporters Without Borders, Paris, March 2011

According to a study conducted by OpenNet Initiative (ONI) in 2005, Internet censorship was mostly confined to websites related to pro-democracy groups and those on pornography.{{cite web |url=http://opennet.net/studies/burma |title=Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study |access-date=11 January 2007 |year=2005 |work=Country Studies |publisher=OpenNet Initiative |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905203458/http://www.opennet.net/studies/burma/ |archive-date=5 September 2008 |url-status=dead }} In addition, 85% of e-mail service provider sites were blocked. The Myanmar Information Communications Technology Development Corporation (MICTDC) licenses cybercafés. Users are required to register, and owners are required to save screen shots of user activity every five minutes, and upon request, deliver them to MICTDC for surveillance. However, cybercafé regulation is loose.

ONI conducted testing in Burma during August 2012. The results of these tests showed that both the scope and depth of content found to be filtered were drastically reduced compared to all previous rounds of ONI testing dating back to 2005. Restrictions on content deemed harmful to state security, however, remained in place. Pornography is still widely blocked, as is content relating to alcohol and drugs, gambling websites, online dating sites, sex education, gay and lesbian content, and web censorship circumvention tools. In 2012, almost all of the previously blocked websites of opposition political parties, critical political content, and independent news sites were accessible, with only 5 of 541 tested URLs categorised as political content blocked.

In November 2010, shortly after Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest, 10 local publications were suspended for placing "too much importance" on her release in their articles.{{cite journal |url=http://en.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/birmanie_ang.pdf |date=November 2010 |title=Aung San Suu Kyi's Release: First Euphoria then Sanctions |journal=Burmes Media: Combating Censorship |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |page=6 |access-date=23 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518064223/http://en.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/birmanie_ang.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Since 10 June 2011, PSRB has allowed publications to self-censor publications dealing with entertainment, sports, technology, health and children's issues, allowing editors to circumvent the mandated practice of submitting report drafts to the PSRB prior to publication.{{cite news|url=http://www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/censorship-10072011203136.html|title=Call To End Media Censorship|author=Kyaw Kyaw Aung|date=7 October 2011|work=Radio Free Asia|access-date=7 March 2012}} This relaxation has occurred in a series of trials over a span of time. In July 2011, Group 1 publications, consisting of 178 journals and magazines, were no longer censored.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/579/news57906.html|title=Pre-censorship lifted for some publications|first=Yadana|last=Htun|date=13 June 2011|work=The Myanmar Times|access-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621063215/http://mmtimes.com/2011/news/579/news57906.html|archive-date=21 June 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/582/news58211.html|title=Press scrutiny official 'satisfied' with transition to self-censorship|author=Nyunt Win|author2=Kyaw Hsu Mon|date=4 July 2011|work=The Myanmar Times|access-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194232/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/582/news58211.html|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead}} In the new system, the first strike requires the publication to pay a K5,000,000 (about US$5,000) deposit. The second strike results in a fine that is withdrawn from that deposit. The depleted amount must be topped up by the publisher or the publication is banned. In December 2011, an additional 54 publications in the business and crime genres, were allowed to self-censor their work.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/612/news61209.html |title=Media law to protect rights of journalists, says ministry |first=Myo |last=Lwin |date=30 January 2012 |work=The Myanmar Times |access-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029143228/http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/612/news61209.html |archive-date=29 October 2012}}

Tint Swe, director of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, has publicly called for the abolition of media censorship in the country, stating that it is not in line with democratic practices.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/10/change-myanmar|title=Censor starts talking sense|date=11 October 2011|author=Banyan|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=7 March 2012}} Tint Swe has also indicated that censorship for videos and films would be relaxed, without specifying a time frame.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5glv1ynkdQgR1BWc1xOhHIw4iEnnQ?docId=CNG.a6f58af4a651cd5bcfbfda28e4b03ed4.501|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221090514/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5glv1ynkdQgR1BWc1xOhHIw4iEnnQ?docId=CNG.a6f58af4a651cd5bcfbfda28e4b03ed4.501|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2014|title=Myanmar eases censorship for some: local media|date=10 December 2010|work=AFP|access-date=7 March 2012}}

In September 2011, several banned websites including YouTube, Democratic Voice of Burma and Voice of America have been unblocked.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burmese-junta-relaxes-access-to-foreign-websites-2356125.html | title=Burmese junta relaxes access to foreign websites | work=The Independent | date=17 September 2011 | access-date=29 August 2011 | author=Andrew Buncombe | location=London}} Foreign journalists, including those from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America, were issued visas to the country the following month.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/597/news59717.html|title=Further progress needed on media, say journalists|author=Kyaw Hsu Mon|date=17 October 2011|work=The Myanmar Times|access-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601004426/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/597/news59717.html|archive-date=1 June 2014|url-status=dead}} A presidential adviser indicated that press censorship would be abolished in 2012 under new media legislation.{{cite web | url=http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201111/3373474.htm | title=Burma says it plans to abolish press censorship | publisher=Australia Network News | date=22 November 2011 | access-date=26 November 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116040434/http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201111/3373474.htm | archive-date=16 January 2013}}

In January 2012, the Ministry of Information announced that it had forwarded a draft of a new media and press law to the Attorney General's Office for review. The draft law, which will need to be approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Parliament), borrows some language from similar laws in Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The draft law, which is adapted from the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Law, will not be submitted during the second parliamentary session.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/613/news61309.html |title=Press law to wait until next hluttaw session: govt |author=Yadana Htun |date=6 February 2012 |work=The Myanmar Times |access-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725183949/http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/613/news61309.html |archive-date=25 July 2013}}

In August 2012, the Ministry of Information lifted the requirement that print media organisations submit materials to the government before publication; films remained subject to prior censorship. The head of the PSRB, Tint Swe, told the Agence France-Presse that "censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years and two weeks later".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19315806 |title=Burma abolishes media censorship |date=20 August 2012 |work=BBC News |archive-date=20 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820094632/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19315806 |access-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} The Associated Press described the statement as "the most dramatic move yet toward allowing freedom of expression in the long-repressed nation".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/myanmar-government-announces-official-end-of-censorship-of-local-media/2012/08/20/59e4771a-ea8f-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html |title=Myanmar ends direct media censorship in most dramatic move yet for freedom of expression |agency=Associated Press |author=Todd Pitman |date=20 August 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=21 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821100417/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/myanmar-government-announces-official-end-of-censorship-of-local-media/2012/08/20/59e4771a-ea8f-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html |access-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} However, the ban on private ownership of daily newspapers remained, as did a law forbidding the publication of "information relating to secrets of the security of the state". Journalism organisations expressed cautious optimism at the change, but predicted that "a pervasive culture of self-censorship" would remain, as journalists feared long prison sentences associated with libel and state security charges.{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-censorship-idINL4E8JK35920120820 |title=Myanmar government abolishes direct media censorship |author=Martin Petty |date=20 August 2012 |publisher=Reuters |archive-date=21 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821115623/http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/20/myanmar-censorship-idINL4E8JK35920120820 |access-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}

As publication legislation slowly ameliorates in Burma in the wake of last August's ban of pre-publication censorship, editorial independence is still hampered by a new requirement for publications to send in published works for post-publication analysis. The PSRB remains a threat to the nation's freedom of press, wielding the same power to audit and sanction publications deemed inflammatory to the Burmese government as it has for the previous five decades.{{cite news |url=http://en.rsf.org/burma-cautious-welcome-for-announced-20-08-2012,43246.html |title=Cautious welcome for announced lifting of pre-publication censorship |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |access-date=21 February 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061357/http://en.rsf.org/burma-cautious-welcome-for-announced-20-08-2012,43246.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://cpj.org/2012/08/-bangkok-august-20-2012--burma.php |title=Burma ends pre-publication censorship; harsh laws remain - Committee to Protect Journalists |publisher=Cpj.org |date=20 August 2012 |access-date=21 February 2013}} Journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Reuters, were charged and jailed on 12 December 2017 by authorities near Rangoon for concealing 'secret papers' which violated a colonial era law.Eltagouri, Marwa. (13 December 2017). "Two journalists covering Rohingya crisis in Burma arrested for possessing 'secret papers'". [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/12/13/two-journalists-covering-rohingya-crisis-in-burma-arrested-for-possessing-secret-papers/?tid=sm_tw Washington Post website] Retrieved 13 December 2017. The two Reuters journalists had been covering the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas' exodus from the country due to persecution. On 3 September 2018, the journalists were both sentenced to seven years in prison sparking outrage among the international community.{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=James |last2=Grinberg |first2=Emanuella |last3=McKirdy |first3=Euan |title=Myanmar: Reuters journalists investigating Rohingya killings sentenced to 7 years in prison |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/03/asia/reuters-journalists-myanmar-trial-verdict-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=4 September 2018 |language=en |date=3 September 2018}}

After the Myanmar military seized power on February 1, 2021, the people of Myanmar have experienced internet connectivity outages, a frequent shutdown of cellular data for several networks, and controlled or blocked use of some websites.{{Cite book |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/3473604.3474562 |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=dl.acm.org |year=2021 |language=en |doi=10.1145/3473604.3474562|last1=Padmanabhan |first1=Ramakrishna |last2=Filastò |first2=Arturo |last3=Xynou |first3=Maria |last4=Raman |first4=Ram Sundara |last5=Middleton |first5=Kennedy |last6=Zhang |first6=Mingwei |last7=Madory |first7=Doug |last8=Roberts |first8=Molly |last9=Dainotti |first9=Alberto |title=Proceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM 2021 Workshop on Free and Open Communications on the Internet |chapter=A multi-perspective view of Internet censorship in Myanmar |pages=27–36 |isbn=9781450386401 |s2cid=236528907 }} The use of social media including Facebook has been restricted, and social influencers have been arrested due to their anti-coup protests on social media platforms.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2021-04-05 |title=Myanmar targets celebrities, hands charges for promoting protests |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-targets-celebrities-hands-charges-for-promoting-protests |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}} Facebook, once the dominant platform in Myanmar, now requires a VPN to access, limiting audience reach. {{Cite web |url=https://nanoomarketing.com/blog/myanmar-digital-marketing-landscape-2025 |title=Myanmar Digital Marketing Landscape 2025 |date=October 1, 2024 |publisher=Nan Oo Marketing}}

Telecommunications companies and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware months before the coup.{{Cite news |last1=Potkin |first1=Fanny |last2=Mcpherson |first2=Poppy |date=2021-05-18 |title=How Myanmar's military moved in on the telecoms sector to spy on citizens |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/how-myanmars-military-moved-telecoms-sector-spy-citizens-2021-05-18/ |access-date=2022-04-17}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-05 |title=Junta steps up phone, internet surveillance – with help from MPT and Mytel |url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/junta-steps-up-phone-internet-surveillance-with-help-from-mpt-and-mytel/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Frontier Myanmar |language=en-US}} Junta has assumed control of the biggest telecom firms such as MPT, Mytel. One of the country’s biggest telecommunication companies, Telenor, which is owned and operated by the Norwegian government, decided to leave the country,{{Cite web |title=Sale of Telenor Myanmar approved by Myanmar authorities |url=https://www.telenor.com/media/newsroom/press-releases/sale-of-telenor-myanmar-approved-by-myanmar-authorities/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=www.telenor.com |language=no}} and sell its business to M1 Group. M1 plans to sell 80% of shares to Shwe Byain Phyu which has strong links to the military.{{Cite web |last=Greig |first=Jonathan |title=Outrage over Telenor Myanmar sale grows as more ties between military and new owner revealed |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/outrage-over-telenor-myanmar-sale-grows-as-ties-between-military-and-new-owner-revealed/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=ZDNet |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-18 |title=Update: internet access, censorship, and the Myanmar coup |url=https://www.accessnow.org/update-internet-access-censorship-myanmar/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Access Now |language=en}} The cost of internet access has reportedly increased in Myanmar, making it less affordable for some citizens. This can further limit access to information and communication tools.{{Cite web |url=https://nanoomarketing.com/blog/digital-marketing-challenges-in-myanmar-2024 |title=Digital Marketing Challenges in Myanmar 2024 |date=October 1, 2024 |publisher=Nan Oo Marketing}}

Official newspapers are controlled by the military and the country no longer has any independent newspaper in publication.{{Cite web |title=Myanmar becomes a nation without newspapers |url=https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/myanmar-becomes-a-nation-without-newspapers |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Myanmar NOW |language=en}} The military pressured newspapers such as 7 Day News and Eleven to stop publishing. Using article 505 (a) of the Myanmar Penal Code, the military targeted entire news organizations and told the media to not use the term "junta" and "coup d'état" as they would face sanctions as a consequence.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=Myanmar's military junta eliminates independent media {{!}} Reporters without borders |url=https://rsf.org/en/news/myanmars-military-junta-eliminates-independent-media |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=RSF |language=en}}

The military also imposed a ban on satellite television. They claimed that outside broadcasts threatened state security and anyone who violates the measure is to be punished with one year imprisonment.{{Cite news |date=2021-05-04 |title=Myanmar announces ban on satellite TV as security threat |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-parcel-bomb-blasts-kill-five-including-ousted-lawmaker-media-2021-05-04/ |access-date=2022-04-17}} The ban targeted independent broadcasters such as the Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima and other ethnic media such as Kachin-based 74 Media and Shan-based Tachileik News Agency. It also affected foreign news channels broadcast through satellites into the country.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-06 |title=Myanmar: Junta Bans Satellite Television |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/06/myanmar-junta-bans-satellite-television |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}{{portal|Myanmar}}

• Media of Burma
• Cinema of Burma
• Literature of Burma

General:

• Human rights in Burma

{{Reflist|33em}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=492&z=14 |title=World Press Freedom Day |access-date=11 January 2007 |work=The Irrawaddy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212151334/http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=492&z=14 |archive-date=12 December 2006 |url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www2.irrawaddy.org/research_show.php?art_id=3534 |title=Chronology of Burma's Laws Restricting Freedom of Opinion, Expression and the Press |date=1 May 2004 |access-date=11 January 2007 |work=The Irrawaddy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011223502/http://www.irrawaddy.org/research_show.php?art_id=3534 |archive-date=11 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/State-of-Fear-minus.pdf |title=State of Fear: Censorship in Burma (Myanmar) |access-date=11 January 2007 |last=Smith |first=Martin |date=December 1991 |publisher=Article 19}}

{{Burma (Myanmar) topics}}

{{Asia topic|Censorship in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Censorship In Burma}}