Myanmar's military-backed parliament passed the Anti-Online Scam Bill on Tuesday, introducing the death penalty for individuals who use violence or unlawful detention to force others into running online scams. The legislation sets a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for operating scam centers or committing digital currency scams. The bill represents the first law enacted under Min Aung Hlaing's government since he assumed office as civilian president in April. The legislation addresses a regional crisis where scam operations across East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania drove $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in losses in 2025, according to UNODC estimates.
Myanmar Parliament Sets Death Penalty for Forced Scam Labor
The approved legislation stipulates that where violence or unlawful detention used to coerce scam operations results in the victim's death, "the death penalty shall be imposed," according to the draft published in May. Lower house MP Aye Chan told AFP the death penalty provision survived into the approved version, and that "the important parts of the bill remained the same." The full text has not been released.
The draft published in May set prison terms of 10 years to life for coercion offenses. A quarter of the seats in both houses—166—are reserved for the military under the constitution, and the USDP won 339 of the remaining seats in phased elections that Aung San Suu Kyi's dissolved party could not contest.
Regional Scam Operations Drive $88 Billion in 2025 Losses
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Karen National Army, formerly the Karen Border Guard Force, as a transnational criminal organization in May 2025. The Treasury stated the militia's territory on the Thai border "is home to multiple cyber scam syndicates" and that it "has benefitted from its connection to Burma's military." The KNA denies involvement in scams.
Scam operations across East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania drove $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in losses in 2025, the UNODC estimates, with people from at least 80 countries found inside the compounds. Cambodia has advanced its own bill setting life terms for compound bosses. U.S. prosecutors seized $25 million in crypto tied to scams routed through the region this month. The UN agency has warned that police in the region still cannot trace proceeds on-chain.
Myanmar Reverses Death Penalty Commutations Three Months After Policy Change
Myanmar resumed judicial executions in 2022, hanging four activists in the first such killings since 1976. Min Aung Hlaing commuted every death sentence in the country to life imprisonment in April, days after taking office. Three months on, his parliament has legislated new death penalty provisions.
FAQ
What penalties does Myanmar's Anti-Online Scam Bill impose for crypto fraud?
The Anti-Online Scam Bill sets a maximum of life imprisonment for anyone who runs an online scam center or commits digital currency scams (crypto scams). The draft published in May established these penalties, and MP Aye Chan confirmed the important parts of the bill remained the same in the approved version.
How large are scam operation losses across the Asia-Pacific region in 2025?
Scam operations across East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania drove $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in losses in 2025, according to UNODC estimates. People from at least 80 countries have been found inside scam compounds across the region.
When did Myanmar last use the death penalty before 2022?
Myanmar resumed judicial executions in 2022, hanging four activists in the first such killings since 1976. Min Aung Hlaing commuted every death sentence in the country to life imprisonment in April, days after taking office as civilian president.
