Myanmar’s new military government blocked access to Facebook as resistance to Monday’s coup surged amid calls for civil disobedience. Facebook is especially popular in Myanmar and is how most people access the internet.
Myanmar’s powerful military grabbed power in a coup against the civilian government and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) in the early hours on Monday.
Residents of Yangon conducted noise protests, banging pots and pans and honking car horns. Facebook users said service disruptions began late Wednesday night.
“Telecom providers in Myanmar have been ordered to temporarily block Facebook. We urge authorities to restore connectivity so that people in Myanmar can communicate with family and friends and access important information,” Facebook said in a statement.