Lawsuit targets Telenor over alleged data sharing with Myanmar military regime

A Swedish human rights organization has filed a lawsuit against Telenor’s former Myanmar subsidiary, alleging the telecom operator shared sensitive user data with the country’s military regime, contributing to the targeting of political dissidents following the 2021 coup.

The case, filed Tuesday by the Justice and Accountability Initiative, a Sweden-based non-profit focused on human rights litigation, represents more than 1,200 individuals whose phone data was allegedly disclosed. The complaint states that the data sharing led to arrests, prosecutions, and, in some cases, executions of individuals identified as opponents of the military junta.

The lawsuit centers on events following the February 2021 military takeover in Myanmar, when authorities sought access to telecommunications data. The plaintiffs allege that Telenor, a Norway-based telecommunications company, provided private user information, including call records and location data, to the military authorities.

In July 2021, Telenor sold its Myanmar operations, transferring all customer data and installed surveillance systems to a company linked to the military. The firm completed its exit from the country in March 2022.

The legal filing asserts that at least 1,253 phone numbers were shared with the military government. The plaintiffs contend that the information was used to identify and track political opponents, leading to detentions and severe legal consequences, including death sentences in certain cases.

The claim alleges that Telenor failed to take adequate measures to prevent the misuse of user data or knowingly allowed the disclosures without sufficient safeguards. Plaintiffs are seeking approximately €9,000 in damages for each affected individual, with additional compensation claims filed by two individuals for financial losses.

Ko Ye, chairperson of the Justice and Accountability Initiative, said the case aims to establish accountability on behalf of affected users and the broader community impacted by the alleged data disclosures.

Telenor has denied wrongdoing and maintains that its actions occurred under extreme conditions. The company stated that its Myanmar operations were conducted in a conflict environment and that refusing requests from military authorities could have placed local employees at risk of imprisonment, torture, or death. It added that any misuse of data by authorities is deeply concerning.