Telenor Sued Over Data Sharing with Myanmar Junta

Myanmar civil society groups are preparing legal action against Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor, accusing it of handing over customer data to the country’s military junta—data they say was used to track, detain and kill civilians.

The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, focuses on Telenor’s operations prior to its 2022 sale to Shwe Byain Phyu, a company with known ties to the regime. Activists allege the firm complied with junta demands for access to call logs and location data from its 18 million users.

Telenor, majority-owned by the Norwegian government, exited Myanmar following the 2021 coup, citing pressure to activate surveillance systems that would have breached EU sanctions. In a statement to Reuters, the company said it faced a “terrible and tragic situation” with “no good options,” arguing that refusal to comply could have endangered staff.

“Like all operators in any country, Telenor Myanmar was legally required to provide traffic data to the authorities,” the firm said.

But campaigners say the consequences were deadly. Defend Myanmar Democracy and the Myanmar Internet Project, the groups behind the case, claim that shared data led to arbitrary arrests, torture, and at least one execution. Among the victims was Phoe Zeya Thaw, a hip hop artist and elected lawmaker, executed in 2022 after allegedly being tracked via his mobile phone.

His widow, Tha Zin, said she was “terribly disturbed and shocked” by Telenor’s role in his arrest. The groups have issued a pre-action letter to Telenor, the first step in launching formal legal proceedings.

Ko Ye, another claimant, said many citizens trusted Telenor because of its international reputation. “Our data is part of our rights. They cannot do whatever they want,” he said.

Myanmar remains in crisis following the coup, with nearly 7,000 killed and 30,000 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The military denies targeting civilians.

Telenor maintains that its actions have already been reviewed by Norwegian authorities. The case now raises broader questions about corporate responsibility in conflict zones—and the cost of compliance under authoritarian regimes.

-2025-10-08