Norwegian police probe Telenor over alleged Myanmar crimes against humanity

Norwegian police announced on Tuesday that they are investigating Telenor on suspicion the telecoms operator may have facilitated crimes against humanity in Myanmar after the Southeast Asian nation's military takeover in February 2021. The inquiry will examine whether the company's business activities in Myanmar contributed to or enabled alleged abuses committed by junta forces during the post-coup period.

Telenor has maintained a significant presence in Myanmar since establishing operations in the country over a decade ago. The investigation centres on whether the company's continued telecommunications services, particularly its mobile network infrastructure, may have played a role in supporting military operations or enabling security forces to coordinate activities during the crackdown on civilian opposition.

The investigation underscores growing international scrutiny of multinational corporations operating in countries experiencing serious human rights violations. International observers and Myanmar civil society groups have previously raised concerns about the role of telecommunications providers in conflict zones, highlighting the potential for technology platforms to facilitate or amplify state-sponsored violence.

Telenor has not yet publicly responded to the Norwegian police inquiry. The company previously suspended some operations in Myanmar but has faced mounting pressure from international human rights organisations and activists to fully divest from the country given the scale of documented abuses since the 2021 coup.

The investigation represents one of the first formal law enforcement actions by a Western jurisdiction examining corporate complicity in Myanmar's post-coup violence, setting a potential precedent for corporate accountability in conflict situations across the region.