Norway probes Telenor over Myanmar abuses

Norwegian police have launched an investigation into telecoms giant Telenor over allegations it aided crimes against humanity in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup.

On Tuesday, investigators raided the company’s headquarters in Oslo as part of a probe into whether Telenor shared sensitive customer data with the junta and breached sanctions by transferring surveillance equipment during its exit from the country. The National Criminal Investigation Service and PST security service confirmed the inquiry in a joint statement.

Police said Telenor Myanmar “repeatedly handed over historical traffic data” to the regime at a time when it was accused of widespread abuses against civilians. The company, which sold its Myanmar operations in March 2022, insists it faced an “impossible situation” where refusing orders could have endangered local staff. “Employees risked imprisonment, torture or the death penalty if the military authorities’ orders were not complied with,” Telenor said.

The case follows a class‑action lawsuit filed earlier this year in Norway, alleging that data handed to the junta led to arrests and even the execution of at least one activist. Rights group Justice For Myanmar welcomed the police investigation, saying it could finally bring accountability for the harms caused.

Telenor confirmed it is cooperating fully with investigators and stressed that no individuals have been charged. The Myanmar embassy in Oslo has not commented.

The probe now places one of Norway’s largest companies at the centre of a global debate over corporate responsibility in conflict zones, raising questions about how far firms should go to protect employees while safeguarding customers’ rights.

-2026-09-16