A screengrab taken from an AFPTV video shows police holding riot shields as protesters gathered during a demonstration in Yangon on Feb 6, 2021. (STR / AFPTV / AFP)
YANGON – Myanmar has blocked the access to social media platforms Twitter and Instagram on Saturday, according to a statement issued by Telenor, one of the four operators in Myanmar.
The move came in addition to the temporary ban of Facebook imposed since Thursday.
The ministry's directive, which was spread on social media late Friday, asked the operators to temporarily suspend the access of Twitter and Instagram under Section 77 of the country's Telecommunications Law, citing public interest and stability as the reason
All mobile operators, international gateways and internet service providers in the country received a directive from Myanmar's Ministry of Transport and Communications to suspend social media platforms Twitter and Instagram until further notice, according to the statement.
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The ministry's directive, which was spread on social media late Friday, asked the operators to temporarily suspend the access of Twitter and Instagram under Section 77 of the country's Telecommunications Law, mentioning that the move is made in the name of public interest and stability.
The restriction of access to social media platform Facebook was imposed in Myanmar from Thursday to Sunday.
Renaming president's office, union gov't office
In another development, Myanmar's State Administration Council changed the name of President's Office into the Office of State Administration Council, according to an order issued by the council on Saturday.
The name of the Union Government Office was replaced with the Office of State Administration Council, according to the council's order.
The State Administration Council also formed a three-member press team which will be led by Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun.
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The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services recently formed the State Administration Council, after Myanmar declared a one-year state of emergency and the state power was handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing on Monday.