Junta forces use VPN ban as means to extort money from mobile phone users

June 26, 2024

HURFOM: Junta’s security forces have aggressively been checking mobile phones of pedestrians in Mawlamyine, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat and Ye Townships, Mon State. They are looking for any VPN applications installed on the phones. If found, they extort as much as 300,000 MMK from the pedestrians.

“They’re checking (mobile phones) on the streets. They didn’t find any VPN application in the phone but they went into the “Settings” and did a deep search. Then, they found (the history of using) VPN and demanded 300,000 MMK. The victim could complain about nothing but to pay the ransom,” said a young man from Mudon Township.

The military junta announced in 2022 that using VPN without permission can result in a prison term of up to three years.

“My son had to pay 100,000 MMK in ransom. He was coming back from a class and his phone was checked. As he installed a VPN application in the phone, the junta’s forces threatened that he would be sued. Then, they demanded 100,000 MMK. They released him only after paying the ransom,” said the parent.

Bans on VPN applications on mobile phones is seen as a violation of freedom of information. Security forces are using the presence of the ban as a vehicle to extort money from people.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News