Telenor faces two investigations over Myanmar exit

Norwegian authorities have opened two separate investigations into Telenor’s conduct in Myanmar after the country’s 2021 military coup. Kripos is investigating suspected involvement in crimes against humanity, while the security service PST is examining whether sanctions rules were breached.

Telenor’s headquarters at Fornebu were searched on Tuesday. The investigations concern actions by the company’s former Myanmar operation. According to the source, the unit handed historical customer traffic data to the military regime several times after the coup.

PST is also examining Telenor’s 2022 sale of the business and the transfer of surveillance equipment without permission from Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Telenor defends its actions and says the company effectively had no alternative. The company says employees faced imprisonment, torture or the death penalty if they failed to follow military orders. No individual is suspected in either investigation.