Burmese media reported that in 2025, the National Management Committee officially introduced a cybersecurity law that imposes sentences and fines for setting up VPNs without a license and engaging in online gambling.
The law stipulates that crimes committed within the country, on ships or aircraft registered under current laws, in any other cyberspace connected to the national cyberspace, or by Burmese citizens abroad, are all subject to this law.
To achieve the objectives of this law, the federal government must establish a Central Cybersecurity Committee, appoint a Vice President as the chairperson, a federal minister as the vice-chairperson, and include federal ministers from relevant departments and chairpersons of related federal organizations.
The Central Committee is tasked with developing cybersecurity policies and strategic plans, or work plans, to ensure a secure national cyberspace, specifying the storage of important public internet infrastructure information within the national cyberspace, and approving the establishment of national digital labs.
For the formulation and issuance of policies, regulations, orders, and directives related to online financial services, guidance must be provided to relevant departments or organizations.
The crimes and penalties under the cybersecurity law include, for non-governmental personnel responsible for managing and maintaining critical information infrastructure, a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 6 months imprisonment, and a fine from 1 million to no more than 10 million Burmese kyat, or both, if they fail to comply with Article 17 (A) or (B) of the cybersecurity law.
Operating a cybersecurity service business without a license will result in a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 6 months of imprisonment, a fine from 1 million to no more than 10 million Burmese kyat, or both, and related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury.
If the offender is a company or organization, in addition to a fine of not less than 10 million Burmese kyat, related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury.
Digital platform service providers with 100,000 or more users in Myanmar, if operating without registration, will be fined not less than 100 million Burmese kyat, and related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury.
Any form of cyber abuse will result in a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 3 years imprisonment, a minimum fine of 5 million Burmese kyat, a maximum of 20 million Burmese kyat, or both.
For dishonest use of network resources to steal or damage others' online financial assets, or instructing others to do so, the penalty will be a minimum of 2 years to a maximum of 7 years imprisonment, and a fine may also be imposed.
Setting up or providing VPN services without departmental approval will result in a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 6 months imprisonment, a fine from 1 million to no more than 10 million Burmese kyat, or both, and related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury. If it is a company or organization, in addition to a fine of not less than 10 million Burmese kyat, related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury.
Setting up an online gambling system without a license will result in a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 1 year imprisonment, a fine from 5 million to no more than 20 million Burmese kyat, or both, and related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury. If it is a company or organization, in addition to a fine of not less than 20 million Burmese kyat, related evidence will also be confiscated and added to the national treasury.
Information not suitable for public viewing, if published, distributed, sent, copied, or sold through electronic technology, will be punished with a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 6 months imprisonment, a fine from 1 million to no more than 10 million Burmese kyat, or both.
The cybersecurity law stipulates that attempts, conspiracies, incitement, assistance in violating this law will be sentenced according to the provisions of this law.
