Myanmar passes Anti-Online Scam Law, forced fraud leading to death can be punishable by death, crypto fraud faces up to life imprisonment

OdailyOdaily reports that the parliament controlled by Myanmar's military passed the "Anti-Online Scam Law" on Tuesday, allowing the death penalty for those who use violence or illegal detention to force others to engage in online fraud. A draft released in May showed that if the related abuse results in the death of the victim, the death penalty shall be imposed. 

The draft also stipulates that those who operate online scam centers or commit digital currency fraud can face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with sentences for coercion-related crimes ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Lower house lawmaker Aye Chan stated that the death penalty clause has been retained in the approved version, the important parts of the bill remain unchanged, and the full text has not yet been published. 

This bill is the first law passed by the new government of Min Aung Hlaing. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that scam activities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania caused losses of between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion in 2025, and individuals from at least 80 countries were found in related scam compounds. (Decrypt)