Shields up: Ensuring digital duty of care for Myanmar researchers (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.
By DigiSec Lab
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 27
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
Keywords: research, digital safety, digital security, cybersecurity, OPSEC, RAMP, digital literacy, cyber risk, digital safety
This Myanmar Digital Research paper was produced for the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative, with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with support from The SecDev Foundation. Views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of either organization.
Over the next two years, over 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. See below for others available now.