Crackdown on Cyber-Scam Centres Faces Satellite Internet Challenge
Joint Operation Frees Thousands in Myanmar
In a rare joint effort in February, Thai and Myanmar authorities disrupted operations at cyber-scam centres by cutting electricity and internet access. This move freed around 7,000 trafficking victims from 29 different countries who had been forced to work in Myanmar.
However, experts have questioned the long-term effectiveness of such actions. They warn that satellite internet technology, like Starlink, China’s SpaceSail, and Eutelsat from Europe, could soon make these blackouts obsolete.
Satellite Internet Raises New Concerns
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, offers portable, high-speed internet through compact devices. These units are easy to carry and provide stable connections when pointed at the sky. Prices start at £50 per month.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, over 80 Starlink devices were confiscated by authorities in Myanmar and Thailand last year. Although Starlink prohibits illegal activity under its terms, it did not respond to questions on the issue.
In both Thailand and Myanmar, Starlink remains unlicensed. But loopholes, such as the ASEAN trade agreement that allows goods to cross borders without inspection, make it difficult to enforce restrictions.
Thai officials say the devices are smuggled into Myanmar via Thailand. While authorities try to seize them, the devices are still widely used, even helping with earthquake relief after recent blackouts.
Despite the internet cuts during February’s operation, many trafficked workers said the shutdown had little effect. Scam centres often use illegal Thai internet links. Threats of arrest and building raids were far more effective in securing the victims’ release, according to anti-trafficking expert Andrew Wasuwongse.
Victims Share Harrowing Experiences
The UN estimates that hundreds of thousands remain trapped in scam operations across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Many are lured by fake job offers.
One survivor, Sara from South Africa, said she was trafficked from Bangkok into Myanmar, where she spent nine months scamming victims online. She worked 21 hours a day and faced torture if she refused. She eventually escaped after raising a ransom by pretending her mother was ill.
Another victim, Palit, a 42-year-old from Thailand, was held in a cramped room with 11 others. He was forced to build fake online relationships to scam people. Any disobedience resulted in violence, he said.
Both were rescued, but experts stress that thousands more remain in similar conditions, fuelling a billion-pound criminal industry.
Regional Power Struggles and Border Gaps
Organised crime groups, mainly from China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, are behind many of these operations. They heavily invest in internet access to maintain control of their scam networks.
While some dismiss the impact of internet blackouts, Rebecca Miller of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime sees symbolic value in the recent operation. It showed Thailand’s seriousness in fighting trafficking, she said.
Phil Robertson, a regional rights advocate, added that Thailand holds strong influence over border guards who protect scam sites. He believes this was more about Bangkok’s commitment than action from Myanmar’s government.
Thailand now plans to improve border checks. When trafficked, Sara didn’t realise she had even crossed into Myanmar, due to the absence of border controls.
The challenge remains complex. Criminal networks operate across several countries, making enforcement difficult. While the recent joint raid was a step forward, experts warn that without sustained action, freed victims will be replaced. The criminal centres are already relocating further south near the Three Pagodas Pass, creating a game of “whack-a-mole”, Miller said.
“This isn’t over,” she added. “It just moves elsewhere.”
with inputs from Reuters