The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative is releasing a new publication on how the researchers stay safe while doing their research.
“Shields up: Ensuring digital duty of care for Myanmar researchers” (by DigiSec Lab) examines how Myanmar’s research community has continued its work under surveillance, censorship, and systemic digital risk, and how a structured safety framework—the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan (RAMP) helped protect researchers operating in dangerous environments. The paper highlights how integrating digital security into research design not only safeguarded individuals and data but also strengthened the overall resilience of Myanmar’s knowledge ecosystem under authoritarian rule.
Abstract
This paper examines how a digital safety framework, the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan (RAMP), helped protect Myanmar researchers working under threats of surveillance, censorship, and violence. Developed by DigiSec Lab, RAMP provided practical tools and training to integrate digital security into research design and practice. Between 2023 and 2025, it was applied across 27 projects coordinated by The SecDev Foundation for the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar initiative. Drawing on survey responses, submitted RAMP plans, and five case studies, the study shows that RAMP strengthened researchers’ ability to recognize risks, adopt safer communication and data storage practices, and protect participants.
Findings highlight that while most researchers avoided major security incidents, challenges remained—particularly around digital literacy, tailoring support to project contexts, and simplifying the risk assessment process. The evidence is clear: digital safety cannot be left to individual initiative. International funders who support research in conflict and authoritarian settings have a duty of care to provide structured, ongoing digital protection as part of responsible funding. The Myanmar experience shows this is both feasible and effective—and should be treated as a baseline standard, not an optional safeguard
These studies are part of the K4DM small grants initiative, which supports emerging scholars in Myanmar.