Myanmar Activists Sue Telenor in Norway for Sharing Data with Military Junta After 2021 Coup

A group of activists from Myanmar is taking legal action against Telenor, a major Norwegian telecom company, in a Norwegian court. They claim Telenor shared private customer information with Myanmar’s military government, which took power in a coup on February 1, 2021. This data was allegedly used to track, arrest, torture, and even kill pro-democracy activists. The lawsuit, announced on October 7, 2025, is led by groups like Defend Myanmar Democracy and the Myanmar Internet Project. They’re accusing Telenor of breaking European data protection laws and putting lives at risk.

Why Are They Angry?

The activists say Telenor handed over sensitive phone data to the military junta after the coup, which ousted Myanmar’s elected government, the National League for Democracy (NLD). This data included things like call records and location details, which the military used to hunt down people opposing their rule. The lawsuit highlights some heartbreaking cases:

• Arrests and torture: Several activists claim they were tracked down and jailed because of the data Telenor shared.
• Executions: One of the plaintiffs, Tha Zin, lost her husband, Phoe Zeya Thaw, a well-known hip-hop artist and NLD politician. He was arrested weeks after Telenor shared his phone data and was executed in 2022 alongside three other activists for what the military called “terror acts.”
• Wider harm: Since the coup, the military has killed over 5,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes. The activists argue that Telenor’s actions made it easier for the junta to target innocent people, including journalists and ordinary citizens.

The groups also criticise Telenor for selling its Myanmar business in March 2022 to a local company, Shwe Byain Phyu, which has close ties to the military. They say this sale gave the junta “unlimited access” to customer data and surveillance tools, making the situation even worse.

What Does Telenor Say?

Telenor, which is mostly owned by the Norwegian government, says it was stuck in a tough spot. After the coup, the military pressured Telenor to share data and install surveillance equipment. The company claims refusing could have been seen as “terrorism and sabotage,” putting its employees in danger. Telenor says it tried to be open about the situation by publicly reporting the junta’s demands. It also argues that this lawsuit repeats issues already looked into by Norwegian police and courts. In short, Telenor says it had “no good options” in a “terrible and tragic” situation.

The Bigger Picture

Telenor used to be a big player in Myanmar, with 18 million customers. Many people trusted it because it was seen as an ethical company, unlike local providers like Mytel, which were linked to the military. But when the coup happened, Telenor faced increasing pressure. To avoid European Union sanctions, it decided to sell its Myanmar operations. However, the sale to Shwe Byain Phyu, a company connected to military businesses, sparked outrage. Over 470 Myanmar groups protested the sale, worried that customer data would end up in the wrong hands.

This isn’t the first time Telenor has faced criticism. Earlier in 2025, reports revealed it shared data with the junta long after the coup. Activists and human rights groups, including Justice for Myanmar and ICJ Norway, also filed complaints accusing Telenor of helping the military with surveillance equipment, which could break EU sanctions.

Why This Matters

Myanmar is still in chaos, with the military fighting an armed rebellion and facing global criticism. The junta insists it’s only targeting “terrorists,” but the violence has been brutal, with thousands dead and millions displaced. This lawsuit shines a light on the tricky choices foreign companies face in countries ruled by harsh regimes. It also raises big questions about data privacy and whether companies like Telenor should be held responsible for what happens when they share information.

The case, backed by the Norwegian law firm Simonsen Vogt Wiig, could set an important example for how European laws—like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—apply to companies operating in conflict zones. Norway’s government, as Telenor’s main shareholder, is also under pressure to act, but it says it can’t stop data handovers.

What’s Next?

As the lawsuit moves forward, it could bring more details to light about Telenor’s actions in Myanmar. It’s a reminder of how complicated it can be for companies to balance ethics, safety, and business in dangerous places. For now, the activists are hoping the Norwegian court will hold Telenor accountable and send a message that customer data must be protected, even in times of crisis.

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