Myanmar proposes death penalty for violent online scam operators

Myanmar’s military government has proposed a new law that would impose the death penalty on operators of online scam centers who use violence or coercion, and life imprisonment for those convicted of digital currency fraud. The draft Anti-Online Scam Bill was made public in mid-May 2026 and is scheduled for consideration by the country’s parliament in the first week of June.

The legislation outlines severe penalties for online fraud. It stipulates that anyone who uses violence, torture, unlawful detention, or cruel treatment to force another person to commit online scams could face execution. The bill also mandates a sentence of life imprisonment for individuals who operate scam centers or commit digital currency fraud. Parliament, known as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, stated it drafted the bill in response to online fraud that threatens national sovereignty and stability.

This move aligns with a broader regional crackdown on scam compounds that have proliferated across Southeast Asia. These centers, often located in fortified compounds along border regions, are frequently involved in schemes ranging from “pig butchering” romance scams to fake cryptocurrency investment platforms. A...