The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) has issued a statement voicing concern over draft cybersecurity law being proposed by the State Administration Council, Myanmar’s ruling body.

The UMFCCI represents the private business sector and is not related to a government organization.

The UMFCCI had the following to say:

1. The UMFCCI is a business organization and team who works on local business development activities and is not a technical organization, so the draft cybersecurity law will be considered from the economic angle.

2. The digital economy is growing rapidly around the world and Myanmar needs to change with them. It is obvious that the digital economy has been beneficial to businesses and consumers during this COVID-19 period. Therefore, the team is working on the digital economy to speed up and transfer to a digital economy in Myanmar. It is very important to have a good environment and supportive laws to make the digital economy successful in Myanmar.

3. The draft Cybersecurity Law has been found to include a lot of hard controls, demands, restrictions, and bans on certain operations. A cybersecurity law is essential but Myanmar should be a positive law supporting operations during the time of transmission to a digital economy and there are many difficult facts to follow.

4. Those who will drive the digital economy in Myanmar are the youth and they are the future of the country. It's their future. The special needs to encourage innovation needs to be free. If youths face difficulties it will hamper the development of the country.

5. The requirements and demands involved in the draft cybersecurity law can be a big challenge for current investors. They are doing business in many countries and the rules they follow involve international practices. So the cybersecurity law could be a barrier to current and foreign investments that may be too hard to follow.

6. The facts to follow in the proposed cybersecurity law can cause many difficulties in implementing activities. As the draft law is a broad law, we should take time to consider the results on all sectors. Also, the draft cybersecurity law has been disrupted as a law due to the impact of domestic economic development, preventing innovation, and proving a challenge for foreign investments.