How protesters in Myanmar get around social media and Internet blackouts

Images and videos of protests across Myanmar have been broadcast and shared online in the past week almost immediately as events unfolded in the country, a far cry from how it was in the past.

With smartphones in the hands of more than 20 million people in the country, it has been impossible to stem the flow of information to and from the outside world.

“The potential is that people can communicate, take eyewitness accounts, and then circulate those quickly via messaging, by social media, on Facebook and by the Internet,” said Professor Gerard Goggin from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University.

While the country had access to the Internet since 2000, it was a luxury few could afford and a SIM card could reportedly cost US$1,000 to US$2,000. Still, news and photos of the Saffron Revolution in 2007 were put on websites and blogs, ensuring worldwide coverage.

Fast forward to 2021, and pre-paid top up cards for mobile phones are a cheap and common commodity.

The Internet and smartphone boom came in 2013 when the state monopoly over phone services ended. As of 2020, Myanmar has four telecom operators and more than 140 Internet service providers.

Source: Agencies