A Swedish non-profit organization has launched a significant legal challenge against the Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor, alleging that the company compromised the safety of its users in Myanmar by handing over sensitive data to the country’s military junta. The class-action lawsuit, filed by the Justice and Accountability Initiative (JAI), seeks damages for thousands of customers who claim their personal information was used to facilitate human rights abuses following the 2021 military coup.
The legal action, submitted to the Asker and Bærum District Court, centers on the claim that Telenor shared customer metadata and identity details with military authorities. According to the plaintiffs, this data sharing directly contributed to severe consequences for dissidents and pro-democracy activists, including the imprisonment of political opponents and, in at least one instance, the execution of a prominent dissident.
At the heart of the Telenor Myanmar lawsuit is a conflict between international human rights standards and the brutal reality of operating in a conflict zone. While Telenor maintains it acted under extreme duress to protect its staff, the JAI argues that the company’s compliance provided the junta with a digital roadmap to target those resisting military rule.
The Scale of the Claim and Human Impact
The financial demands of the lawsuit reflect the scale of the alleged breach. While the final number of victims is still being identified, the JAI states it has already documented at least 1,253 phone numbers belonging to users whose data was shared with the military. The lawsuit seeks approximately 9,000 euros in compensation per customer, bringing the current total claim to at least 11.3 million euros (approximately 130 million Norwegian kroner).
Ko Ye, the chairman of the Justice and Accountability Initiative, emphasized that the lawsuit is not merely about individual compensation but about establishing a precedent for corporate responsibility. In a press release, Ko Ye stated: “For us as civil society representatives, we want to hold Telenor accountable on behalf of other users of Telenor, not just for specific persons, but also for the broader society that was harmed.”
The allegations come amid a broader pattern of digital surveillance in Myanmar. Since the February 2021 military coup, the junta has systematically targeted activists, journalists, and civilians. The use of telecommunications data has been a critical tool for the military to track movements and identify the networks of the National Unity Government (NUG) and other resistance groups.
SAKSØKES: Telenor saksøkes for 130 millioner kroner. Foto: Emilie Holtet (NTB)
Corporate Defense: “Russian Roulette” in a War Zone
Telenor has consistently denied legal liability for the actions taken during its tenure in Myanmar. David Fidjeland, Information Chief for Telenor Group, stated that the company currently has no formal knowledge of the lawsuit and therefore cannot comment on specific claims or amounts. However, he provided a stark defense of the company’s previous actions, noting that Telenor Myanmar was operating on the ground within an active war zone.
Fidjeland argued that the company faced an impossible choice between complying with the military junta’s demands and risking the lives of its local employees. “To refuse the military authorities could in the worst case mean imprisonment, torture or the death penalty,” Fidjeland stated. “This was not a real choice – we could not play Russian roulette with our employees’ lives.”
The company believes that the issues raised in the lawsuit have already been addressed in previous reviews and expresses confidence that the legal challenge will not succeed. This defense hinges on the principle of “necessity,” suggesting that the immediate threat to human life outweighed the duty to protect customer privacy.
Timeline of Telenor’s Engagement in Myanmar
Telenor’s relationship with Myanmar began during a period of democratic opening and ended in the wake of systemic collapse. The company entered the market in 2014 after the country abolished its telecommunications monopoly, positioning itself as a key player in the nation’s digital transformation.
| Year | Event | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Market Entry | Telenor establishes presence after telecom monopoly ends. |
| 2021 | Military Coup | Junta seizes power; Telenor faces demands for user data. |
| 2022 | Divestment | Telenor sells its Myanmar operations and exits the country. |
| 2025 | Legal Action | Class-action lawsuit filed in Norway by JAI. |
The 2021 coup fundamentally changed the operating environment. Following the seizure of power, Telenor Myanmar reportedly handed over sensitive data on hundreds of opposition members and other high-risk individuals. By 2022, the company determined that it could no longer operate in the country in accordance with its corporate values and international standards, leading to a full divestment of its assets.
Political Fallout and Parliamentary Oversight
The controversy has extended beyond the courtroom and into the halls of the Norwegian government. The Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament) is currently conducting a control case regarding Telenor’s activities in Myanmar. The Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs is examining the dialogue between the state and the company during the exit process, as well as the junta’s subsequent use of the company’s data.
Despite the parliamentary interest, the Norwegian government has been criticized for not providing full transparency into the ownership dialogue during Telenor’s withdrawal. This political tension underscores the broader debate over how democratic states should hold their national champions accountable when they operate in authoritarian regimes.
Disclaimer: This article reports on ongoing legal allegations. Telenor has denied liability, and no court has yet ruled on the merits of the claims made by the Justice and Accountability Initiative.
The next critical step in this case will be Telenor’s formal response to the Asker and Bærum District Court. This filing will likely detail the specific legal justifications for the data sharing and provide the company’s official counter-argument to the JAI’s evidence of human rights violations.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on corporate accountability in conflict zones in the comments below.
