Myanmar's military might, Apple clashes with Facebook and Canada's very own Hollywood
1 - 7 February 2021
Hello February!
It seems there’s no such thing as a quiet week, so let’s get to it ⬇️
REASSERTING ITS AUTHORITY
Protests erupted in Yangon on Saturday as thousands took to the streets of Myanmar’s largest city to denounce the military takeover. Despite efforts to choke the internet, images and videos of the demonstrations managed to circulate on social media under the hashtag #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar.
To recap: Myanmar’s military, officially known as Tatmadaw, flexed its muscle by seizing power in a coup on Monday. Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s civilian leader, as well as top members of her party, National League for Democracy (NLD), were arrested in early morning raids. The Tatmadaw declared a one-year state of emergency and made General Min Aung Hlaing the head honcho.
These events happened hours before parliament was meant to reconvene following a landmark election in November. While some believe the military was offended by the NLD’s resounding victory (it maintains there was widespread voter fraud), others say the junta simply got tired of their experiment with partial democracy, especially as relations between Suu Kyi and General Min deteriorated.
Another theory is that General Min, who faces mandatory retirement from the army when he turns 65 in July, is seeking to carve out a permanent presidential role for himself to protect his wealth and status.
Nonetheless, it’s important to note that the Tatmadaw never stopped pulling the strings in Myanmar. In addition to oversight of key ministries and public institutions, the junta controls two conglomerates with significant business interests (ranging from mining to tourism).
Furthermore, the military had no qualms about violently persecuting Rohingya communities in Rakhine state, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee to Bangladesh. In 2019, Suu Kyi went to the Hague to dispute the genocide accusations levelled at her country, much to the dismay of human rights groups.
Western nations have criticised the Tatmadaw’s actions in the wake of this week’s coup, and Washington is threatening to reimpose sanctions. But that sentiment wasn’t shared by the ASEAN bloc, or China and Russia - both countries reportedly blocked a UN Security Council statement on Tuesday condemning the Burmese military.
The language used by Asian diplomats has been muted. The CCP’s news agency described the upheaval in Myanmar as a "cabinet reshuffle", while Cambodia, Thailand (also under military rule) and the Philippines called the developments an "internal matter".
These dynamics reveal the complexities of dealing with Myanmar on the international stage. Although the US has sway, Myanmar’s major economic partners are from East and Southeast Asia, where governments are not in the habit of openly interfering in domestic affairs.
In reality, the Tatmadaw’s persistent influence and its treatment of Rohingya Muslims didn’t deter foreign investment into Myanmar. Businesses from China, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and South Korea have all pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the frontier market in recent years. Beijing, in particular, has been selling Myanmar on its Belt and Road Initiative.
For now, it appears Asia investors are taking a wait-and-see approach. Only Japan’s Kirin has announced an end to its joint beer venture in Myanmar. The likes of Toyota, Suzuki and Lotte Group are remaining silent - but analysts expect a reaction if and when the US decides to introduce penalties.
However, given the strength of the civil disobedience campaign, perhaps the junta should be more concerned about the Burmese population rather than courting foreign dollars.
Suu Kyi is still a beloved national icon, and Myanmar’s youth and professional associations are increasingly tech-savvy, educated and willing to speak out.
[I visited Myanmar in October 2017 and noticed that pictures of Suu Kyi and her father, General Aung San, adorn the walls of many Burmese homes.]
THE BATTLE FOR OUR DATA
Although we tend to view Big Tech/Silicon Valley as a monolithic entity, there are often serious fractures within the technology industry.
Case in point: Apple vs. Facebook. Tensions between the two titans are rising after Apple CEO Tim Cook approved privacy changes that will require users to give their consent to digital activity tracking by certain apps. The feature, called App Tracking Transparency, will come with the next iOS update.
At the moment, advertisers are allowed to monitor Apple customers’ behaviours across apps and the web by default, enabling them to send targeted messages. So if you spend a fair amount of time searching for exercise tips, for instance, your Instagram account will display content from Nike, Freeletics or a fitness influencer.
But Apple wants its users to explicitly opt-in to personalised ads without needing to tweak individual settings. Naturally, Facebook is uneasy since the move could potentially hamper the effectiveness of its targeted ads apparatus - a pillar of its multi-billion dollar empire.
Facebook’s PR blitz argues that personalised ads help small businesses (who have limited marketing budgets) and keeps apps free. Mark Zuckerberg is also reportedly weighing up an antitrust lawsuit against Apple.
Meanwhile Cook seemingly threw shade at the social media platform in January, asking “What are the consequences of prioritising conspiracy theories and violent incitement simply because of their high rates of engagement?” **mic drop**
However, Facebook isn’t the only organisation breaking into a sweat. In the latest batch of earnings calls, a host of ad-dependent companies - notably Snap, Pinterest and video game developer Unity Software - warned of iPhone-sized holes in their future revenues due to the tracking permission prompt.
The question now is whether Google will do the same with its Android operating system.
O CANADA!
As film & TV production cautiously resumes around the world, you may have noticed that several of your favourite actors are either completing quarantine in a Vancouver hotel or working on set in the Canadian city.
The list of talent currently in British Columbia includes the casts of The CW’s Riverdale and Batwoman, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, John Cena and Sebastian Stan.
This concentration of star power is hardly a new trend, though. Vancouver’s special relationship with show business goes back at least two decades. In fact, Vancity has earned the moniker ‘Hollywood North’ because of its vibrant film & TV sector.
Interestingly, last year was extremely busy for local studios and crews despite the global spread of Covid-19. While production in the US was shuttered for most of 2020, teams in British Columbia quickly established safety plans to get the cameras rolling again following the initial spring lockdown. As a result, filming in Vancouver rebounded and then exceeded pre-pandemic levels. One executive said her studio complex was operating at full capacity in October and November.
Beyond strict PPE and testing protocols, there are multiple reasons why Vancouver has become North America’s third-largest film hub. Firstly, the Canadian government offers very generous tax credits and incentives to production units. Secondly, Vancouver’s diverse landscapes and population make the city a cinematic chameleon. There’s a strong chance that when you see New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles or even Mumbai on the big screen, it’s actually Vancouver.
Another advantage is the post-production (think: visual effects, animation and sound mixing) expertise. The Vancouver Economic Commission has long nurtured the growth of VFX and technical crafts. In 2013, Lucasfilm opened an office of its Industrial Light & Magic division in Vancouver - a ringing endorsement from the home of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
Hollywood North is primed to expand further thanks to Netflix’s support. A few months ago, the entertainment giant launched a production base just outside of Vancouver. This means our streaming addiction could be great for British Columbia’s coffers.
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments.
Stay curious, Sara x