Myanmar government is drafting by-law to take action against ‘propagandising’ on social networks and the internet.

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The government is drafting by-law to take action against ‘propagandising’ on social networks and the internet.

Lt. Police Colonel Myint Aye from Yangon region police force said on Tuesday that the Electronic Transaction Act will be used to prosecute propaganda offenders but urges public cooperation as the police currently lack the means to track culprits.

“We are planning to take action on propagandizing with photos and news on web pages. But we lack techniques to trace them, so we can’t take action on the offenders. Now we are drafting the by-law. Public need to cooperate with us to take action on them,” said Myint Aye.

The Electronic Transaction Act will be used to prosecute individuals using online propaganda but sentences will vary depending on the offence, starting at a minimum three years in prison, he added.
Recently news of an unidentified woman murdered in Shwe Pyi Thar township was reported on social network pages turned out not to be true, according to Yangon region police who investigated the case. Such rumours and misinformation can be used to spread hatred and incite people to violence.