Misinformation and hate speech, repressive online money systems and violence towards women in the media are three key issues explored in newly published research, supported by IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) and SecDev Foundation.
The first paper, Dangerous Channels unpacks how messages on pro-military Telegram channels undermine pro-democracy groups, while Policing Mobile Money studies how the regime’s regulation of online financial systems impacts users and feeds into surveillance and repression. Finally, Crisis under the Coup explores gender-based violence against women working in the media.
Over the next two years, twenty papers in the Myanmar Digital Research series will have researchers within and in the Myanmar diaspora exploring how the digital world is shaping their social, political and economic crisis, bringing new insights into issues facing Myanmar citizens.
The K4DM initiative supports Myanmar’s research culture, with a particular focus on writing by and for vulnerable groups, including LGBTQIA+, women, religious and ethnic minorities.
“Myanmar represents a unique experience where the power of technology is redefining how public spaces operate during tumultuous times. Our initiative seeks to boost that power for the greater good so that Myanmar researchers and partners can contribute evidence and strategies to preserve democratic values, especially for vulnerable communities, and engage in public discourse, even under uncertain circumstances for policy making,” says K4DM lead, Dr. Edgard Rodriguez.
The research is in collaboration with the SecDev Foundation (SDF), a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes digital safety and resilience globally among vulnerable groups. SDF also runs a Burmese-language online digital safety course at www.digiseclab.org.
“Our first priority was to see risk assessment and digital-safety best practice built into the heart of these research efforts. This is about ensuring that Myanmar’s eager young researchers can continue engaging with a whole range of stakeholders—safely and effectively—inside the country, in the diaspora and in the global community,” says SecDev Foundation Executive Director Deirdre Collings.
The papers are available for download or to read online from the following links:
Dangerous Channels, led by Intellectum Research explores how online misinformation and hate speech distort Myanmar’s social and political landscape.
Policing Mobile Money by authors Bradley, Gar and Vox (all pseudonyms) looks into online financial systems and suggests technologies and practices that can help citizens bypass repressive tactics.
Crisis under the Coup by Myanmar Women in Media investigates women’s experience, how they are responding, and proposes support and changes needed.
These three papers will soon be followed by three more exploring online education for Myanmar youth. Several of the authors will discuss their research at K4DM’s upcoming Knowledge Marketplace 2024 scheduled from July 29 to August 4 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
About Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM)
The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative nurtures a new generation of young actors to promote inclusion, gender equality, respect for diversity, and prosperity for all in Myanmar. K4DM is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada. As part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, IDRC champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developing regions to drive global change.