Rights groups, business people and foreign investors are expressing concern over a law proposed by the Myanmar junta that aims to shut down social media platforms and undermine internet privacy, including criminalizing the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

“Any sort of online freedom of expression will be destroyed by this draft law, leaving the Burmese people in the dark,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “The junta thinks that if it cuts off internet communications it can win, but in fact it severely underestimates the damage this law will cause to the economy if passed.”

Rights group Free Expression Myanmar says the military’s new draft Cyber Security Law repeats the repressive provisions of previous drafts and adds more, seriously threatening the safety and security of Myanmar’s digital space.

They say the new proposal has also added a sixth vague category of expression that the military could order deleted: ‘expressions that damage an individual’s social standing and livelihood’ in reference to Article 35(f).

Using a VPN without approval or online gambling could lead to a punishment of a 5 million kyat fine, three years imprisonment, or both.