The Myanmar Digital Research series includes papers by researchers within Myanmar and in diaspora who have explored how the digital world is shaping their social, political and economic crisis, bringing new insights into issues facing Myanmar citizens. It 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.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 01
Dangerous channels: Misinformation and hate speech on Telegram in post-coup Myanmar
By Intellectum Research Consortium
This study explores how online misinformation and hate speech distort Myanmar’s social and political landscape.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 02
Policing mobile money: Digital financial repression in post-coup Myanmar
By Bradley, Gar and Vox
This report studies how the regime’s regulation of online financial systems impacts users and feeds into surveillance and repression.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 03
Digital economy in post-coup Rakhine: Exploring digital careers emerging in Myanmar’s Rakhine community in response to COVID-19 and the military coup
By Myat Thiri Bo
The research examines the rise of the digital economy among young entrepreneurs dealing with the economic dislocations of Covid-19 and the military coup. It explores the potential and limitations of the digital careers emerging in Rakhine State, and the impact of digital literacy on the future of this sector.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 04
Unlocked and exposed: The impacts of digital security measures on classroom communication in online learning environments
By Nyan-Na, Maung Lwan-Wai, Hsay Sann
This paper looks at digital security concerns and how they impact the quality of online classroom communication, posing the question of how alternative education providers can respond to online classrooms where surveillance and oppression are constant concerns.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 05
Education gap online: Myanmar’s higher education gap moves to the digital space
By Myanmar Data Tech Team
The research examines the challenges faced by Myanmar students engaging in online higher education, highlighting disparities both physical (electricity, internet connectivity) and social (gender).
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 06
Access to digital education: The final hope for education of young people in Myanmar
By Gathering House Youth Empowerment Society
This study looks at how disparities in online education access flowing from the Covid-19 pandemic and the military coup continue to impact young people’s digital education access. The focus is on rural and conflict-affected areas, emphasizing their participation in civil disobedience and resistance.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 07
Chin State’s e-learning crossroads: Can digital technology solve post-coup education gaps?
By TheHILLS Myanmar
The paper reveals the crucial role of digital technology in providing education access despite ongoing political unrest. The research presents unique field-level insights on the digital education landscape in Chin State.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 08
Forced displacement: Post-coup issues and challenges for Myanmar’s Chin people in Mizoram
By Min Thang
The paper provides a detailed examination of the experiences of Chin refugees who fled to the Indian border following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 09
Not your body, not your business: Decoding efforts to address non-consensual pornography in Myanmar’s digital space
By Maung Lwan-Wai, Bhone Maung, Yin Maung and Zee Pe
The study examines the challenges faced by victims of non-consensual pornography in Myanmar, and finds that institutional capacity and social media platform policies for handling these cases remains limited.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 10
Militarized masculinity: Gender narratives among armed resistance groups in Myanmar
By Kyal Sin Thukha and Zin Mar Phyo
The researchers investigated the evolving gender narratives within Myanmar’s armed resistance, particularly the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), and discuss the impact of militarized masculinity on PDF members.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 11
Crisis under the coup: Gender-based discrimination, violence and sexual harassment against Myanmar women media professionals
By Myanmar Women in Media
The research explores gender-based violence against women working in the media.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 13
Targeted identities: Cyberbullying and online harassment of LGBTQ individuals in Myanmar
By Thein Dollar
The paper looks at the intersection of social media use and the pervasive issue of cyberbullying and online harassment faced by LGBTQ individuals in Myanmar.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 14
Voices amid strife: Rohingya Perceptions of the Arakan Army, war in Rakhine, and justice in Myanmar
By Tin Mar Oo, May Thu, Zar Ti Nwe Nu Aung and Hilary Faxon
This report looks at how the media portray conflict dynamics and how Rohingya community members experience and interpret the Arakan Army’s territorial struggle, the ongoing conflict in Rakhine, and broader revolutionary developments in Myanmar.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 15
Digital governance in exile: Examining the National Unity Government’s digital services efforts in Myanmar
By Kyaw Lwin and Myat Su Thwe
The paper analyzes the challenges in implementing digital services initiated by the National Unity Government (NUG). The study untangles the complicated relationship between technological systems and the socio-political context in which they operate.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 16
Social overload: Social media use and mental health in Myanmar
By Calm Lab
This research looks at how excessive use of platforms like Messenger, Facebook, and Telegram during crisis periods correlates with chronic stress and depression, revealing a significant link between exposure to crisis-related content and poor mental health outcomes.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 17
Seeing fakes: Assessing digital literacy and misinformation resistance in Myanmar
By Intellectum Research Consortium
The study looks at how diverse populations in Myanmar interpret, verify, and respond to online information, revealing gaps in digital literacy and the risks of misinformation under authoritarian digital governance.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 18
Digital resistance: Understanding and strengthening online activism in Myanmar
By Thurein Lwin, Nyan Aye, Khit Tar, Aung Sett Paing and Aung Kyaw Soe
The study looks at the role of digital platforms in sustaining the Spring Revolution, analyzing how censorship, trust, and activism interact in online spaces amid military repression.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 19
Four years after: Surveying post-coup perceptions and lived experiences in Myanmar
By Jangai Jap, Htet Myet Min Tun, Mozart Brang, Myat Thiri Bo and Naw Awng Jakan
The research examines attitudes toward federal democracy, public administration, and digital repression across diverse communities, based on a large-scale online survey four years after the military coup.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 20
Deadly posts: Examining and countering harmful social media content in post-coup Myanmar
By Tay Zar Myo Win and Phyu Phyu Thi
The paper explores the spread of hateful propaganda on widely used social media platforms in Myanmar – such as Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and TikTok.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 21
Debunking myths: Counter-narratives in the fight against gender-based violence in Myanmar
By Hsu Myat Yadanar Thein, Than Tun, and Yay Chann
This research looks at the positive impact of social media in creating momentum toward rejecting social norms and promoting an environment where survivors can speak out and gain support and empowerment to address gender-based violence.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 22
Fight for survival: Independent media under dictatorship in Myanmar’s Rakhine and Kachin States
By Media Desk
The research looks at media outlets in Rakhine and Kachin states—two regions severely impacted by armed conflict and digital suppression—and how they have adapted and survived amidst escalating repression.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 23
Fandom and freedom fighters: The role of pop fandom activism in fundraising for Myanmar’s revolution
By Nway and Htaike
The paper delves into the influential role of pop culture-fandoms in supporting Myanmar’s post-coup revolution, through fundraising activities primarily conducted on social media platforms, notably Facebook.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 24
Digital swindles: Understanding and combating online scams in Myanmar
By Su Su Nwal, Aung Ko Ko Myint, Su Myat Nwal
The research assesses the current policies in place to combat online scams, evaluating their effectiveness and identifying potential gaps, to provide insights into how individuals can respond when encountering online fraud.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 25
Scam haven: Responding to surging cyber crime and human trafficking in Myanmar
By Myanmar Scam Watch
This report investigates the rise of transnational organized crime, human trafficking, and cyber fraud in post-coup Myanmar. Drawing on field research, interviews, and open-source data, it shows how Myanmar’s $37 billion illicit economy continues to expand despite repeated crackdowns.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 26
Hooked by hope: Social media as a Myanmar scam-worker recruitment tool
By Bo Bo
The paper examines the use of social media platforms by transnational criminal networks to recruit individuals for forced labour in cyber scam operations, with a particular emphasis on the Myanmar-Thailand border region.
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 27
Shields up: Ensuring digital duty of care for Myanmar researchers
By DigiSec Lab
The report details 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.
