Myanmar's parliament has passed an anti-online scam bill that includes the death penalty for operators of scam centers, particularly if violence or unlawful detention leads to a victim's death. Life imprisonment will be imposed for crypto scams and operating such centers.
The new law represents a significant escalation in Myanmar's efforts to combat a burgeoning cyber scam industry, with severe penalties including capital punishment aimed at deterring operators and protecting victims.
Myanmar's military-backed parliament has passed the Anti-Online Scam Bill, introducing the death penalty for individuals who use violence or unlawful detention to force others into operating online scam centers. If such abuse leads to a victim's death, the death penalty will be imposed. The bill also mandates life imprisonment for running scam centers or committing digital currency scams. This legislation marks the first law enacted under the government of Min Aung Hlaing, who assumed the presidency after leading the 2021 coup. The UNODC estimates that scam operations across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania resulted in losses between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025, with individuals from at least 80 countries found within scam compounds. The U.S. Treasury has previously sanctioned the Karen National Army, citing its territory as a hub for cyber scam syndicates.
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