Myanmar’s silent digital crisis – The Diplomat

The recent arrest of Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov in Paris has highlighted global concern over the platform’s rapid and unregulated growth. The development highlights Telegram’s potential as a haven for cybercriminals, as investigations scrutinize its content moderation and role in facilitating crimes such as child pornography and cyber fraud. Less discussed is how Telegram also facilitates cybercrime and nonconsensual pornography in war-torn Myanmar.

Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the military regime intensified its control over information, targeting social media for its role in free communication. The junta banned major platforms like Facebook, Messenger, and X (formerly Twitter), conducted random phone searches, and banned VPNs, isolating the country from international surveillance while increasing its ability to monitor citizens. Privacy concerns intensified as the military’s State Administration Council (SAC) monitored social media accounts and prosecuted individuals under Section 505(a) of the penal code for allegedly undermining the military’s authority. Amid this growing crackdown, Telegram gained popularity for its accessibility and perceived security amid shrinking online freedoms.

The SAC notably excluded Telegram from its social media bans, positioning it as a safer and more accessible platform in the context of Myanmar’s civil war. Initially, it played a crucial role in maintaining communications and protecting user privacy, attracting those seeking secure channels. However, its privacy features, intended to protect users, were quickly exploited. As a poorly moderated platform hosting channels with up to 200,000 members, Telegram became a breeding ground for cybercrime. Its acceptance of unauthorised sensitive content, coupled with features such as unlimited cloud storage and large file uploads, further fuelled the spread of 18+ content, particularly non-consensual pornography.

Lack of regulation and weak cybersecurity have allowed Telegram channels to spread non-consensual pornography unchecked, normalizing the cybercrime over the past three years. Despite its growth, online sextortion is largely ignored in a society where sex education is taboo. These channels, which have tens of thousands of subscribers, offer VIP access to the latest illicit content, while older content is often sponsored by gambling sites. This has created a monetized ecosystem of easily accessible illicit content, entrenching the harmful practice in Myanmar’s digital landscape and leaving a vulnerable population exposed to exploitation.

In Myanmar, sexual relations are culturally restricted to marriage, and shockingly, rape victims are sometimes forced to marry their attackers. A deeply ingrained culture of victim-blaming isolates women, unfairly blaming them for their own trauma. Criminals exploit these conservative norms to protect their distribution of non-consensual pornography and sextortion. They prey on young, vulnerable women who, shaped by societal values, often remain silent, blaming themselves instead of seeking justice.

The story of Ma Ingyin (not her real name), a 20-year-old student who was sextorted after her boyfriend sold her nude photos on Telegram channels, is a striking example. She was bombarded with threats, some demanding sex or money to keep her images private, with one even threatening to report her to the military government, putting her family in danger. Terrified, she blocked those who asked for sex, paid others, and eventually removed herself from social media. Sadly, many young women in Myanmar are suffering the same fate, trapped by the non-consensual sharing of their private images and powerless against the military regime, a broken legal system, and a deeply conservative society.

Myanmar’s strict ban on pornography and conservative views on sex have led to a demand for non-consensual content on Telegram. Channel administrators have exploited this situation, creating an illegal market fueled primarily by vengeful ex-boyfriends, spy cameras in hotels, and hackers who infiltrate devices to sell personal data. Prices for such content range from 30,000 to 50,000 MMK (about $6 to $8), but the market continues to grow.

The more visible the victim’s face, the higher the price, while male faces are often obscured, revealing an intention to target vulnerable women. Telegram administrators protect the identities of dealers while exposing victims, with celebrities and influencers being particularly lucrative targets. Perpetrators extort victims, offering to remove the content for a fee, but it often lands on VIP channels, quickly going viral on social media. Leaked celebrity sex videos are even all the rage, dangerously normalizing this exploitative practice in Myanmar.

The question is how young women in Myanmar are coping with the relentless threats and exploitation associated with nonconsensual pornography. Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s legal system has collapsed amid the revolution, with the regime losing control and civil war fueling widespread lawlessness, allowing sextortion and other illicit activities to flourish without consequences for the perpetrators. Revolutionary groups focused on fighting the regime are also unable to address these issues, leaving victims without protection or justice. Desperate for help, many victims pay Telegram administrators, but while some manage to stop the extortion, others are forced into sexual acts, risking further exploitation or even sexual slavery. With little faith in the legal system, those who seek justice often endure public exposure, compounding their trauma. In this climate of fear and lawlessness, many women remain trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation.

Beyond the financial cost of ransom demands for leaked nude photos and sex videos, the social stigma and pressure inflicts deep psychological trauma on young women already struggling in a war-torn country. With ineffective law enforcement and ambiguous legal protections, there is little hope of stemming the spread of non-consensual pornography. However, responsible actors in Myanmar can no longer ignore the pervasive suffering of these victims. The ongoing sexual exploitation of innocent young women demands urgent attention and action as they remain trapped in a brutal cycle of abuse and exploitation.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar underscores the urgency of combating cybercrimes such as non-consensual pornography and sextortion, which thrive on unregulated social media platforms. Limited cybersecurity resources make the risks even more acute in fragile states like Myanmar. Tailored policies are essential to protect vulnerable populations in conflict zones, where lawlessness and exploitation are commonplace. Without swift action, these harmful practices will take deep root, causing lasting harm and further destabilizing Myanmar’s digital and social landscape beyond the end of the civil war. Now is the time to intervene to prevent irreversible damage.