Myanmar junta shuts Twitter and Instagram to curb protests
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Military authorities in charge of Myanmar broadened a ban on social media following this week's coup and shut Twitter and Instagram, as residents in the biggest city again banged pots and plastic bottles to show their opposition to the army takeover.
In addition to Facebook and related apps, the military government on Friday ordered communications operators and internet service providers to cut access to Twitter and Instagram. The statement said that some people are trying to use both platforms to spread fake news.
Netblocks, which tracks social media disruptions and shutdowns, confirmed the loss of Twitter service starting 10 p.m. Instagram was already subject to restrictions.
In a statement, Twitter said it is “deeply concerned” about the order to block internet services in Myanmar and vowed to “advocate to end destructive government-led shutdowns.”
“It undermines the public conversation and the rights of people to make their voices heard,” the spokesperson said.
Telenor, a Norway-based telecommunications company operating in Myanmar though a subsidiary, said it had complied with the order but also challenged “the necessity and proportionality of the directive.”
State media are heavily censored and Facebook in particular has become the main source of news and information in the country. It is also used to organize protests.
For the fourth night Friday, the cacophony of noise from windows and balconies reverberated through the commercial capital of Yangon, as resistance to the coup and arrests of activists and politicians gathered steam.
Earlier Friday, nearly 300 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party declared themselves as the sole legitimate representatives of the people and asked for...
