Human rights abuse allegations against Telenor in Myanmar
Representational image of Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor. Reuters.
Allegations of human rights violations in Myanmar have been brought against Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor. Based on these allegations, Norwegian authorities raided the company’s headquarters, as announced on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, customers of Telenor’s former Myanmar subsidiary, Telenor Myanmar (TML), filed a lawsuit against the company. They allege that Telenor handed over customers' private personal data to Myanmar’s military junta.
The plaintiffs claim the junta used this data to identify, arrest, and prosecute opponents of Myanmar's military regime.
Norwegian police stated that the National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) and the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) have opened two separate investigations into Telenor.
Kripos is investigating how Telenor may have facilitated crimes against humanity between February 1, 2021, and March 25, 2022—the period spanning from the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government to the completion of Telenor selling its subsidiary. Meanwhile, PST is investigating potential sanction violations related to the transfer of surveillance equipment during the sale of Telenor Myanmar, which required official authorization.
Telenor, which is 54 percent state-owned by the Norwegian government, stated in a press release that it is fully cooperating with investigators to help clarify all facts.
The activist group Justice for Myanmar, which filed a complaint against Telenor in Norway in December 2024, welcomed the initiation of the investigation.
Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung said, "Telenor’s role in transferring spyware to a military-linked entity and sharing sensitive data with the junta is documented. We hope this will hold Telenor accountable for its actions and the harm caused to the people of Myanmar due to its irresponsible exit."
Telenor Myanmar began operations in 2014, and by 2021, its customer base exceeded 18 million.
In July 2021, Telenor announced plans to sell its Myanmar division, citing pressure from the military junta to install intercept equipment on its network as the reason for exiting the country.
Rights activists expressed deep concern over the announcement, fearing the sale would place all customer personal data and installed surveillance technology directly into the hands of a military-linked entity.
Telenor Myanmar was subsequently sold to the Lebanese conglomerate M1 Group. The junta later approved the sale on the condition of a partnership with local consortium Shwe Byain Phyu.
