In Brief:
- Myanmar approves death sentence for cyberscam offences.
- The draft bill includes life imprisonment for running scam centres and crypto scams.
- The move targets online scams amid rising digital fraud concerns.
- Authorities seek stricter penalties to deter cybercrime activities.
In a significant legislative measure targeting digital fraud and human trafficking, Myanmar's parliament approved the "Anti-Online Scam Bill" on Tuesday (July 28, 2026), introducing severe criminal penalties, including capital punishment.
The legislation was finalized after members of parliament approved amendments to the draft bill during a combined morning session of the lower and upper houses in the capital, Naypyidaw. Union Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced the bill's passage during a live television broadcast.
The law comes as part of Myanmar's efforts to address growing regional and international concerns over transnational cybercrime operations. In recent years, criminal networks across Southeast Asia have lured jobseekers under false pretenses, subjecting many to forced confinement and compelling them to carry out global financial scams.
