Myanmar’s internet blackout is costing lives in earthquake-hit areas

As Myanmar remains shaken by a devastating earthquake, which has claimed more than 3,000 lives, a lack of connectivity is proving to be an obstacle to relief and rescue work. Htaike Htaike Aung, a leading digital rights advocate, is monitoring the situation in the most-affected areas. Myanmar’s Sagaing region, the quake’s epicenter and a battleground between the military and resistance forces, remains under a strict communications blockade. She’s working to mobilize international pressure on the junta to restore access and allow aid and rescue efforts to move forward. In 2024, Myanmar saw more internet shutdowns than any other country, with 85 documented cases, according to digital rights group Access Now. Aung is the executive director of Myanmar Internet Project, an advocacy group documenting internet shutdowns in the country following the 2021 military coup. On March 31, together with over 120 signatories, including local and international rights groups, the Myanmar Internet Project published a joint statement calling on the junta to lift restrictions on internet services, including social media platforms and news media websites.