56 Indonesian citizens detained in Myanmar’s crackdown on online-scam back in December, 2025. (INP Polri)
On July 28, Myanmar’s military-backed Union Parliament passed a green light to an “Anti-Online Scam Bill,” a law that regulates capital punishment for those who run online scam centers and force, violate or torture another person to commit to the scam.
The law passed during a joint session of parliament in the capital city Naypyidaw. Parliamentary Speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced its approval in a televised address, while lower house lawmaker Aye Chan confirmed that capital punishment remained part of the final legislation. Moreover, the lower house lawmaker added that only a few changes were made to the draft before it was approved, with the main parts of the bill staying the same.
Under the law, anyone who uses violence, torture, unlawful detention or other forms of abuse to force a person to take part in online scams can face prison sentences of between 10 years and life. If a victim dies because of these actions, the offender shall be sentenced to death.
The law also sets life imprisonment as the highest punishment for people who operate online scam centres or carry out cryptocurrency scams. It is also the first to be passed under Myanmar’s new government, led by former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who became president in April after the formation of the new administration.
Myanmar has become one of hot spots for online fraud in Southeast Asia. Many scam groups target people around the world through fake investment and cryptocurrency schemes. While some people join these operations willingly, many others have been trafficked into Myanmar and forced to work under harsh conditions.
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