Norway’s government is facing scrutiny from opposition lawmakers after refusing to release documents detailing discussions with telecommunications firm Telenor regarding its 2021 exit from Myanmar. The move comes as allegations persist that Telenor shared customer data with the ruling military junta following the coup,raising important human rights concerns prompting planned legal action from Myanmar civil society groups. The government cites the need to maintain confidentiality in owner-company dialog, a position contested by members of parliament seeking greater transparency.
Norway’s government has again refused to release internal documents detailing discussions with telecommunications firm Telenor regarding its exit from Myanmar, a move that has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers. The decision comes amid scrutiny over potential human rights concerns related to Telenor’s data handling practices during and after the 2021 military coup.
The Norwegian government, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, was asked to provide documents related to discussions between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and Telenor as the company exited Myanmar. The request followed concerns about potential human rights violations.
The government has now again declined to release the requested information.
The committee had sought details regarding communication between the government ministries and Telenor during its withdrawal from Myanmar.
Reports, including those from NRK, have alleged that Telenor provided Myanmar’s military junta with access to sensitive personal data and the ability to monitor phone calls even after the 2021 coup.
Confidentiality Concerns
Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Cecilie Myrseth explained the government’s decision in a letter to the committee:
**A practice that would render owner dialogue no longer confidential between the company and the ministry would likely mean that companies become significantly more reluctant to provide information to the state as a shareholder, she wrote.
**This could lead to a substantially weaker basis for the state to play the role of an active and challenging owner.
**On this basis, the government believes it is fundamentally important that owner dialogue remains a confidential dialogue between the ministry and the company, according to Myrseth.
Prime Minister’s Support
Prime Minister Støre voiced his full support for Myrseth’s position. In a separate letter, he referenced previous instances where the Solberg administration had withheld documents from parliament, including during the Nav-related case.
“The committee does not have a right to document access beyond what is stipulated in the Freedom of Information Act, but there is a practice of the government exercising a greater degree of transparency towards the committee,” Støre wrote – but ultimately concluded against releasing the specific dialogue with Telenor.
Committee Chair Expresses Surprise
– I am very surprised by the response, said committee leader Per-Willy Amundsen (Frp).
– The state is not just any owner. The limits of the Freedom of Information Act do not apply to parliamentary oversight. The information we have received confidentially is also insufficient for our needs, he said.
