(Reuters] – Meta Platforms Inc., formerly Facebook (NASDAQ): announced on Wednesday that all Myanmar-military owned businesses would be banned from its platforms. It is expanding its existing restrictions against the country’s security forces.

In February, the U.S. tech giant announced that it would ban all advertising from its platforms by entities associated with the Tatmadaw military unit.

“This action is based in extensive documentation by international community and civil societies of these businesses’ direct involvement in financing the Tatmadaw,” Rafael Frankel said, Meta’s Pacific director, public policy for emerging nations, Asia Pacific.

In February, Myanmar’s military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government. This triggered widespread protests.

An official of the military junta that banned Facebook in February did not respond to calls for comment.

Frankel explained that Meta had identified these companies on the basis of a U.N. Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar 2019 report and research by activist groups Justice for Myanmar or Burma Campaign UK as well as consultations with civil society.

According to him it was already taking down 100 accounts and pages linked to military-controlled business.

As the most popular internet channel in Myanmar, Facebook is a key player. It continues to be widely used by protesters and soldiers as well.

Facebook was critical of its failure to stop hate online posts and has now defended the military.

Rohingya refugees are also suing the platform over claims it failed to act against hate speech that was directed at Muslim Rohingyas and causing violence.

U.N. investigators found that Facebook was used by militant Buddhist nationalists, military personnel, and others to promote violence against the Rohingya. 700,000. Rohingya fled an Army crackdown in 2017.

Frankel refused to discuss the suit but stated that he was shocked by the acts of violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar. We’ve built a dedicated team of Burmese speakers, banned the Tatmadaw, disrupted networks manipulating public debate and taken action on harmful misinformation to help keep people safe.”