Myanmar’s ruling junta of military leaders released a list earlier this week of websites accessible for public viewing, including popular games like Candy Crush, though virtual hotbeds of dissent like Facebook and Twitter remain banned.
The country’s military - also known as the Tatmadaw - seized power in the early hours of February 1 and has been working over the past three months to crush dissent both online and on the streets.
Until now, internet accessibility has been banned across the country. But under the latest amendment, more than 1,200 websites and virtual service providers will be given the go ahead to resume activity in Myanmar.
Nearly 50 banking and financial sector websites have been given the all clear alongside 20 food delivery services like Foodpanda, Nikkei Asia reported referencing people familiar with the situation.
Roughly 60 entertainment sites, including news outlets like The New York Times and CNN, are back online in Myanmar in addition to Instagram, YouTube and Netflix. Junta authorities have also selected about 40 virtual games from “Candy Crush” to “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.”
But some popular social media sites remain conspicuously absent from the whitelist as the military continues to clamp down on the country’s pro-democracy movement which opposes the recent coup.
Facebook and Twitter, both frequently used by protesters to share information and arrange demonstrations, are banned by the junta but users may still access mainland-operated WeChat, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, Viber and Zoom as well as Russia’s VK messaging service.
The whitelist was sent from the junta-controlled Ministry of Transport and Communications to telecoms and ISPs across the country.
"To reconnect the education and [small and medium-size enterprise] sectors, the [internet] service providers should follow the order to set the whitelist internet access to the user as soon as possible,” an attached message read.
