Telenors mareritt i Myanmar

Telenor, one of Norway's largest companies, found itself entangled in a scandal involving human rights abuses in Myanmar. The company's involvement stemmed from its presence in Myanmar since 2013, when it began building a mobile network and selling prepaid cards to the millions of people who had never owned a mobile phone. However, everything changed on February 1, 2021, when a military coup took control of the country.

The ensuing conflict between the military junta and various opposition groups was intense and bloody. During this period, Telenor was placed in a difficult situation. The company not only operated the mobile network but also held crucial information about its customers. On several occasions, the military regime demanded that telecommunications companies, including Telenor, shut down the internet and provide information about customers.

Telenor faced a dilemma, as employees risked imprisonment, torture, or even the death penalty if they did not comply with the military's demands.

Despite the company's description of an "untenable situation with no good options," Telenor ultimately decided to sell its assets in Myanmar. The complexity of the situation was not lost on the Norwegian government, which owns nearly 54% of Telenor. The Storting's control and constitutional committee began investigating the government's handling of the situation in 2025, focusing on Telenor's dilemma around sharing customer data with authorities while still operating in Myanmar.

The Norwegian state's role in the matter remains a contentious issue. With Telenor being a listed company, its management and leadership are responsible for driving the company, not the Norwegian minister of trade. This raises questions about the government's responsibility when a company they own ends up in such a precarious situation.

The Control and Constitutional Committee has sought more information about the dialogue between the state and Telenor regarding their ownership, as well as what authorities knew about the risks associated with customer data.

The investigation by Norwegian police into Telenor's involvement in Myanmar's political turmoil is expected to shed light on the extent of the company's knowledge and actions during this tumultuous period. The case is significant and complex, yet it has not received widespread attention in Norwegian media, possibly due to its technical nature and the remoteness of Myanmar. However, the scandal raises important questions about the trust placed in large Norwegian corporations and the role of the state in their operations.