Myanmar coup: Facebook, Instagram place immediate ban on military

Social media giant Facebook has banned Myanmar's military and its affiliates from its platforms.

The company said it acted after deciding "the risks of allowing the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] on Facebook and Instagram are too great".

The military has used Facebook to boost its claim of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

More than half of Myanmar's 54 million people use Facebook, which for many is synonymous with the internet.

Facebook had just days earlier already banned the military's main page for breaching its guidelines following the 1 February coup.

Since the military seized power, it has arrested protesters, ordered internet blackouts and also banned social media platforms – including Facebook.

Facebook said in a statement late on Wednesday, that it saw the "need for this ban" following the "events since the 1 February coup, including deadly violence".

At least three protesters and one policemen having been killed in violence at rallies against the coup, which removed the South-east Asian nation's elected government.

The social media platform also said it will also be banning Tatmadaw-linked commercial entities from advertising on the platform, adding that these bans would take effect immediately and would remain "indefinitely".

It added that the ban would not cover government ministries and agencies engaged in public services, like the Health and Education Ministry.