Accused Of Being A Tool For Spreading Fake News, The Myanmar Military Blocked Facebook Until February 7

Illustration. (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's military junta has blocked Facebook and other messaging services to ensure stability on Thursday local time. The move comes after a coup staged on Monday earlier this week, which was followed by the detention of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to the Myanmar military, silence online activities is considered to be important because critics against the junta appear very strongly on Facebook. Pictures of the protest against the coup have been circulating widely on Facebook.

The social network has also been used to share protest images, carried out by government hospital staff across Myanmar.

The Ministry of Communication and Information of Myanmar confirmed that Facebook, which is used by half of Myanmar's 53 million people, will be blocked until February 7.

"Right now people are destabilizing the country. Spreading fake news and causing misunderstanding among people by using Facebook", the ministry said in a letter, as reported by Reuters.

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone urged authorities to restore connectivity so that people in Myanmar can communicate with their family and friends and access important information.

Separately, the leading Norwegian mobile network operator Telenor Asa said that they had no choice but to comply with the Myanmar Military's directive to block Facebook.

"Although the directive is based on Myanmar law, Telenor does not believe that the request is based on necessity and proportionality, in accordance with international human rights law", Telenor wrote in a statement.