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Myanmar Parliament Passes Anti-Online Scam Law Adding Death Penalty
Myanmar’s military‑backed parliament approved the Anti‑Online Scam Law, the first legislation under President Min Aung Hlaing’s administration. The bill authorises the death penalty for individuals who use violence, torture, unlawful detention or cruel treatment to force people into online‑scam operations, and mandates capital punishment when such actions cause a victim’s death. For other offenses, the law prescribes prison terms ranging from ten years to life imprisonment, including for cryptocurrency‑related fraud and operating scam centres. Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced the approval on live television, and lower‑house MP Aye Chan confirmed that the final version retained the death‑penalty clause after only minor changes. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that online fraud linked to Myanmar generated between US$88.3 billion and US$114.1 billion in 2025, fueling a trans‑national criminal industry. The law follows a high‑profile FBI operation that seized more than $8 billion in cryptocurrency tied to Burmese scam networks. Human‑rights groups have warned the draconian penalties could exacerbate abuses in a country already plagued by civil war and mass trafficking.
Entities
Anti‑Online Scam Bill · Aung Lin Dwe · Aye Chan · Min Aung Hlaing · Myanmar · Myanmar Parliament (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) · United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] The law was enacted under the government led by former junta chief and current civilian president Min Aung Hlaing. www.timesnownews.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · www.newsmobile.in · www.wochenblitz.com · +1 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The bill authorises the death penalty for individuals who use violence, torture, unlawful detention, or cruel treatment to force people into online‑scam operations. www.timesnownews.com · cointelegraph.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · www.newsmobile.in · +2 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The law imposes prison terms of 10 years to life imprisonment for cryptocurrency‑related fraud and for operating online scam centres. www.criptotendencias.com · www.timesnownews.com · cointelegraph.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · +3 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Lower‑house MP Aye Chan confirmed that the final version of the law kept the death‑penalty clause. www.timesnownews.com · cointelegraph.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · www.wochenblitz.com · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Myanmar’s parliament passed an anti‑online scam bill. www.criptotendencias.com · www.timesnownews.com · cointelegraph.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · +4 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The final bill retained the death‑penalty provision after only minor changes were made during parliamentary discussions. www.timesnownews.com · cointelegraph.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · www.newsmobile.in · +2 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced the approval of the anti‑online scam law on live television. www.timesnownews.com · internewscast.com · mykmu.net · www.newsmobile.in · www.wochenblitz.com · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that online fraud linked to Myanmar generated between US$88.3 billion and US$114.1 billion in 2025. www.newsmobile.in