Just saw the actual numbers on Myanmar's censorship and it changed my mind about VPN bans

I used to think banning VPNs was just about stopping piracy or something, not a big deal for most people. Then I stumbled on this report from Freedom House about Myanmar's 2021 internet shutdowns after the coup. They said over 1.2 million daily users suddenly lost access to social media and news sites, and the government blocked at least 40 different outlets overnight. I always figured people could just use a VPN and get around it, but the report explained how they criminalized VPN possession with up to 3 years in prison. That detail hit me hard because I'd never thought about the actual enforcement. It's not just about having the tech, it's about risking jail to read a newspaper. Has anyone else seen those stats from Freedom House or similar reports? I'm curious if other countries have similar penalties.

2 comments

2 Comments

loganburns10d ago

Myanmar's a perfect example actually. I've been tracking block page data from GreatFire and their censorship is borderline industrial, they block everything from basic news sites to weather apps. From what I've read the prison time there is real, not just a threat, they've prosecuted journalists under it.

valsullivan10d ago

Oh man, you're spot on. I've been following some of the same data and it's wild how deep they go. Even blocking things like simple RSS readers or basic tech forums that have nothing to do with politics. The threat of prison time for journalists is no joke either, I've seen reports of editors doing years just for reporting on local elections.