The UN says that Myanmar's military dictator is using social media as a weapon to oppress pro-democracy activists.
16 March 2023
UN experts, including the UN Special Representative for Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews, issued a statement on March 13 that Burmese military dictators are using social media as a weapon to suppress the democratic opposition and carry out online violence.
Feminists under Burmese military dictatorship United Nations experts also urged Telegram to prevent online violence by women.
Military supporters use social media to attack democracy activists and human rights defenders by writing and attacking them online. Hate speech to defame women Sexual abuse writings, He said they are also working on social media to spread discriminatory news. Many said that not only did they have to stop their online activities, but they also had to stay away from the public in real life. Social media, Telegram, in particular, is the main propaganda of military supporters. UN experts have also warned that it has become a place to spread hatred.
Ever since the coup, military supporters have taken advantage of Telegram's lax terms and conditions and lack of data verification. "They are writing misogynist and inciting material that incites violence and spreads hate to tens of thousands of viewers in those particular ways," the UN expert said.
He said that they often target women by sharing personal information, including name and address, online without the consent of the online abused victims and inciting violence.
Such information-based attacks often include incitement to terrorist attacks, and the named accused are also arrested by the military.
All over Myanmar, when women activists who oppose the military dictatorship and those who support democracy, CRPH, PDF, supporters, NLD party members and those around them, those who post pictures about the revolution on social networks; and those who comment, likes, share are being called out in the Telegram Channel, the military immediately goes and arrests them, even torture killing and in imprisoning them.
"The arrests of politicians, even though they are shooting and killing peaceful protesters, the military dictators who are not able to fully grasp the power are now extending their brutal suppression to the virtual world," said the UN expert. He also said that the military authorities are shocked and afraid of women's ability to mobilize in the struggle against military rule.
"Their positions for human rights; As a result of opposing the military's attempts to control power and the efforts to return Myanmar to the democratic path, women are being humiliated, insulted and threatened with violence online every day. Women human rights defenders and women independent organizations in Myanmar suffer from various forms of threats, including having their personal information published online and inciting terrorist attacks against them," the UN statement said.
After learning of these incidents, Telegram shut down 13 accounts of military supporters shortly before releasing a report detailing the threats on Telegram. But one of the channels that is inciting the most violence in Telegram has recently been spreading revivalist propaganda once again.
While welcoming Telegram's response, UN experts say more needs to be done now.
"Messages posted on Myanmar accounts and channels. As long as Telegram does not take the information seriously and does not take any verification measures, if the accounts of military supporters are closed, they will open a new account and incite violence. The social attacks will continue," he said.
The experts urged Telegram, along with other social media, to identify and prevent human rights abuses by identifying accounts that incite attacks and incitement to violence on their platforms.
"Human rights violations, including gender-based violence and discrimination, Unlawful arrests, Disclosure of personal information, "We need to prevent tech companies from using their services to perpetrate attacks on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly online and in the world," he said.
In Myanmar, women are being targeted and attacked. According to the UN expert, there is a need to closely cooperate with local organizations to verify information distributed in ethnic languages in addition to Burmese.
UN human rights experts have also urged Telegram and other social media companies to do what is necessary to protect the human rights of those who use their services.
In this statement, Tom Andrews, the UN's special representative for human rights in Myanmar, Dr. Anna Brianna Urges, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of the Individual; Ram Al Salam, UN Special Representative on Violence against Women and Girls; 16 experts, including UN Special Representative for Freedom of Expression Irene Khan, have been requested to participate.
Please let me know the right spelling of the UN's special representative for human rights in Myanmar, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of the Individual and UN Special Representative for Freedom of Expression
Comments