The COVID-19 pandemic is fueling Myanmar’s ongoing free-speech debate. Recent protests and statements from advocacy organizations have condemned what activists call state suppression amid a national crisis. A joint statement from 264 organizations, ranging from media groups to women’s rights watchdogs, called on the government to lift a longstanding internet blackout in parts of Rakhine and Chin states, claiming the measure will harm efforts to contain the new coronavirus and provide for its victims

The statement also condemned the recent blacklisting of 221 websites the government claimed hosted explicit content and fake news. Of Myanmar’s telecoms, only Telenor defied the order to cut off access to the sites, but eventually capitulated to state demands. “Myanmar should immediately lift its order to block news websites for allegedly publishing ‘fake news.’ Such orders will only stifle independent and critical reporting within the country,” The Myanmar Times quoted Shawn Crispin of the Committee to Protect Journalists as saying. Fake news in the form of unfounded rumors about the virus have indeed hampered the ability of the government to manage the behavior of the public during the crisis. Articles with unfounded claims (for example, that the government is intentionally spreading the virus or secretly hoarding a cure for COVID-19) have been circulating around social media for months. However, critics claim blacklisting web sites will not help stop rumors, but only increase the government’s dominion over the media.

The controversy is merely the latest in a series of free-speech related incidents. The military recently charged a journalist under the terrorism law for interviewing members of the Arakan Army rebel group. Before that, it threatened to sue Reuters and Irrawaddy news for defamation for another report about the conflict in Rakhine State. Earlier this year, several performers were sentenced to jail time for posting a video of a performance that mocked the Myanmar army.