December 12, 2022
Since 2021, the Myanmar military has waged parallel coups offline and online, as it implements tactics to surveil, target and deny people their digital agency. These have ranged from introducing significant price hikes on SIM cards and internet services - making it prohibitively expensive for many to access the internet - to regulatory attempts which will enshrine in law the death of online civic space in Myanmar.
Internet shutdowns and mobile communications blackouts have plunged whole communities into darkness, and the military now has complete dominance over the telecommunications sector, setting the stage for unfettered surveillance unprecedented in the country’s history. And the deadline to complete its mission? The 2023 general election.
November 28, 2022
On Nov. 9, Singapore’s Parliament passed the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (Online Safety law) to “improve safety” and “combat harmful content” online. This law, along with two related regulations — the Content Code for Social Media Services (CCSMS) and the Code of Practice for Online Safety (CPOS) - will likely be implemented in 2023 to address content that incites violence, sexual abuse, self-harm, and harms to public health and security.
Singapore’s efforts reflect a global trend towards governmental content regulation. In proposing these measures, it referenced similar efforts in Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia.