A concerning situation has emerged where China has gained the ability to access, analyze, and monitor detailed internet usage data of all Myanmar citizens. Civil society organizations have revealed that this situation not only threatens the personal privacy of individual Myanmar citizens but also poses a significant risk to the country’s sovereignty. The military council has handed over control of all citizens’ internet usage data to a technology company closely affiliated with the Chinese government.
In this context, China can analyze the data of all Myanmar people and conduct targeted surveillance and pressure campaigns against those they deem necessary. Particularly concerning is the Geedge’s Tiangou Secure Gateway system’s capability to inject malware into Myanmar citizens’ internet traffic paths, enabling potential hacking operations. The collaboration between MesaLab, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Geedge demonstrates the extent of Chinese government influence in this operation.
The military council has begun compromising the country’s sovereignty by providing Chinese authorities access to Myanmar citizens’ personal data in exchange for maintaining their power. This situation will have implications not only for revolutionary forces but also for individuals within the military establishment. The extensive data breach, involving over 100,000 documents, primarily contains information about Geedge Networks and its partner MesaLab, who have installed internet censorship systems in Myanmar according to the military council’s requirements. This development represents a significant threat to both personal privacy and national security, potentially affecting all segments of Myanmar society, from civilian opposition to military personnel.
