The international internet research firm Top10VPN released a report – Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns in 2019 – last week, revealing a global economic cost at $8.05 billion for shutting down the internet.

In terms of the economic impact globally, Iran was hit the hardest, resulting in over $2 billion in economic costs, followed by Sudan and India, while Indonesia came at seventh and Myanmar, 10th. However, Myanmar saw the longest shutdown in the world, surpassing Chad and India.

Internet disruptions could damage the entire local economy, formal and informal included, and pose lasting damage with the loss of investor confidence. Besides preventing businesses from communicating with customers, partners and suppliers, it also restricts the flow of money through mobile money transactions, said Samuel Woodhams, digital rights lead at Top10VPN.

“Access to [internet] services should be maintained for humanitarian purposes, especially during times of conflict,” said a spokesperson for Wave Money, one of Myanmar’s leading digital payment companies. To continue to provide services, the firm has been communicating with agents from affected areas to direct their customers to alternative Wave shops where Wave Money services are available.

Despite global condemnation as well as a statement from the UN, the government has yet to restore internet access to four townships in Rakhine State since more than half a year ago.

The four townships, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Kyauk Daw and Minbya, first saw an open-ended internet shutdown with four other Rakhine and one Chin townships starting last July, with the government justifying the measure under national security reasons. The internet was later restored the other towns in September.

Fighting has continued for months between the Tatmadaw (military) and the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine rebel group, in northern Rakhine, one of the most impoverished states in Myanmar.

“The fear is that the internet blackout is shrouding further human rights abuses as military intervention intensifies in the region,” the report by Top10VPN said.

Without evidence suggesting shutting down the internet helps alleviate conflicts, Mr Woodhams said such an action imposed by the government was “disproportionate and counterproductive”.

“Removing citizens’ access to information and the ability to communicate with one another at critical moments puts citizens at further risk and, by adding to the confusion and panic, may lead to further casualties,” he added.

Internet shutdowns have also damaged living conditions, hindered humanitarian efforts and greatly infringed on citizens’ fundamental human rights.

The Myanmar Times reported earlier, aid agencies have repeatedly warned that cutting off internet access has endangered the livelihoods and safety of local communities and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The blackout has made it even more difficult for the internally displaced people (IDPs) to access aid, or for the aid groups to reach them.

The UN, for example, weighed in last September, calling the shutdown “a significant impediment” to its work and communications in the area, while asserting internet’s essential role in freedom of information and expression, which enable other human rights.

Youth activists and rights groups last month launched a protest in Yangon against the internet shutdown, with Rakhine MP U Oo Hla Saw urging the international community to help restore internet services

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/worlds-longest-internet-shutdown-cost-myanmar-us75m-last-year.html