Myanmar's Digital Dictatorship: An Extreme Example of the Use and Abuse of Social Media

Abstract

The situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, with news received on July 25 that four activists have been executed. The executions are the first carried out in Myanmar for several decades. The government mouthpiece, the <b>Global New Light of Myanmar,</b> claimed that the activists' crimes were "giving directions, making arrangements, committing conspiracies for brutal and inhumane terrorist attacks such as murder and causing the death of many people". One of those executed was veteran democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy. According to a report on <i>CNN</i>, "Ko Jimmy became a prominent student activist in Myanmar during the mass popular uprising against the then-military regime in 1988. He spent about 15 years behind bars for his activism and involvement in the 8888 demonstrations and 2007 Saffron Revolution." According to local media, Ko Jimmy was detained in October 2021, accused of organizing guerrilla attacks on junta targets and charged with treason and terrorism offenses. <i>The regime also wanted him for allegedly inciting unrest because of social media posts criticizing the coup."</i>