Facebook’s ban of Tatmadaw (military) officials and organisations coincided with the release of a scathing report of Burma’s military leaders by the UN Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission. This is the first time Facebook has blocked members of the military in any country.
The company has taken down 18 Facebook accounts, one Instagram account and 52 Facebook pages belonging to Min Aung Hlaing and 19 other individuals and organisations, which were followed by almost 12 million people. It said this was to “prevent them from using our service to further inflame ethnic and religious tensions”.
“Given the weakness of international sanctions in response to the crisis, which have avoided targeting Min Aung Hlaing, Facebook shutting down his Facebook page is probably the strongest sanction he has faced so far,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.