People should thoroughly read cybersecurity law to prevent exploitation
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Phyo/ Yoon (NP News) - Jan 9
A recommendation has been made by a retired senior police officer through The Statesman journal, urging the public to thoroughly read the cybersecurity law in order to protect those who do not understand it from exploitation.
The cybersecurity law, which includes provisions for imprisonment and fines for activities such as cyber fraud, establishing VPNs without authorization, and engaging in online gambling, was officially enacted on January 1st.
Since the enactment of the law, there have been concerns and misconceptions among the public, with some believing that using a VPN could lead to arrest.
The retired senior police officer said to The Statesman journal, “Using VPNs widely is not a problem; everyone uses them. However, for some companies and businesses, if they want to use a VPN privately, they must register. When they provide online services, they must register. If they don't, there will be legal action. I've heard that in China, VPNs are also used, but people need to register and pay a fee. If companies and businesses want to set up and use VPNs on their own, they will need to register.”
Additionally, there have been reports stating that using a VPN could lead to being investigated or arrested. The retired senior officer expressed concerns that, due to misunderstandings about VPN usage, there could be exploitation of the uninformed public.
The retired senior officer said, “I'm worried that this could be misused. It's like the People Military Service Law. The government enacts it legally. However, at the lower level, there are cases of administrators taking bribes and such. Similarly, the law from above is enacted in accordance with the law. But at the grassroots level, there are concerns that if someone uses a VPN, they will be arrested or investigated. We can't rule out that some people might misuse it. Right now, it's just suspicion, so they check phones. These things could become a means of exploitation for those who are uninformed at the lower level, and that's why I'm concerned.”
Therefore, he urged that the public should read and understand the law thoroughly, and that those responsible for legal matters should engage in discussions and provide clarifications through the media regarding issues related to the cybersecurity law.
He said, “The public should carefully read this law. After that, they should understand it clearly, and if any accusations arise, they should be able to explain that the law doesn't mean what they think. It is about companies and businesses registering if they use a VPN privately. People should take an interest in the law. Furthermore, the relevant legal departments should engage in discussions and provide clarifications to the public through the media about the cybersecurity law. Only then will the public understand. Laws are often difficult for civilians to comprehend.”
It has been learned that the law has an impact on companies and businesses using VPNs for private use, and they may face legal action if they do not register and use it officially
Under the cybersecurity law, anyone who establishes a VPN or provides services without authorization may face imprisonment for 1 to 6 months and a fine ranging from 10 lakhs to 100 lakhs kyat. Additionally, service providers such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram must register for a license, and if they fail to do so, they may face fines of up to 1,000 lakhs.
Furthermore, sharing, distributing, selling, or sending inappropriate content such as sex cases, abuse, and violent acts on online platforms like Telegram and Facebook, which are not suitable for public viewing, may result in imprisonment for 1 to 6 months and a fine ranging from 10 lakhs to 100 lakhs kyat. –