Myanmar’s Parliament gave the green light to a strict Anti-Online Scam Bill on July 28, targeting digital currency fraud and scam operations. The approval came after both legislative chambers reconciled amendments, but the exact text and enforcement details remain undisclosed publicly.
The bill introduces severe penalties, including 10 years to life imprisonment for running online scam centers or engaging in crypto-related fraud. It also covers recruitment, financial facilitation, and telecom support tied to organized fraud schemes. Remarkably, the draft includes death penalty provisions for violence or torture used to force individuals into scam work, upheld by lawmakers in the final vote.
Unclear Final Text and Expanded Government Powers
Although the state media confirmed the bill’s approval, the final amended version, presidential assent, and the commencement date have not been published online. Without the official wording, it’s uncertain if all offenses and sentencing ranges survived the parliamentary changes intact. The draft also establishes an Anti-Scam Centre and authorizes coordination with foreign governments, banks, and telecoms for sharing data and freezing suspicious accounts related to scams.
Human Rights Myanmar criticized the bill before its passage, expressing concerns about potential abuses under broad financial and data powers. Meanwhile, the crackdown aims to dismantle scam networks that have posed growing challenges in the country’s digital currency space.
This article is for informational purposes and not financial advice.
