Among the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) countries, Uzbekistan is the undisputed leader in applying Internet controls.
Filtering is comprehensive and, until 2006,
largely undeclared with the government denying the existence of these practices. At present,
the government employs sophisticated multilayered mechanisms to exercise control over
the Internet, including adopting restrictive policies, applying technological measures, and
compelling self-censorship on the media.
Background
At present, and in spite of the formal separation
of powers enshrined in the Constitution of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, virtually all power is
invested in President Islam Karimov. During his
extended authoritarian rule the president has
demonstrated an active commitment to controlling the information environment in the country
and constraining the expression of dissident
viewpoints. The active opposition has been
forced to leave the country. For them, the Internet
often remains the only way to communicate with
Uzbek society. The complex series of laws and
regulations have resulted in self-censorship of
online publishers, independent journalists, and
bloggers. This, complemented with a restrictive
Internet filtering regime, significantly stifles public
discourse on political and human rights topics.
Uzbekistan’s control of the Internet embodies the most pervasive regime of filtering and
censorship in the CIS. It stands in stark contrast
to the government’s official enthusiasm for information and communications technology (ICT)
development and the Internet. Until 2001
Uzbekistan was a regional leader in the adoption
of the Internet and the prioritization of ICTs
as a mechanism for national development.
Uzbekistan was among the first of the post-Soviet
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
No evidence
Suspected
Selective
Substantial
Pervasive
Filtering
of filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
Political
●
Social
●
Conflict/security
●
Internet tools
●
Other factors
Low
Medium
High
Not applicable
Transparency
●
Consistency
●
Uzbekistan
States (CIS) countries, Uzbekistan is the undisputed leader in applying Internet controls.
Filtering is comprehensive and, until 2006,
largely undeclared with the government denying the existence of these practices. At present,
the government employs sophisticated multilayered mechanisms to exercise control over
the Internet, including adopting restrictive policies, applying technological measures, and
compelling self-censorship on the media.
Background
At present, and in spite of the formal separation
of powers enshrined in the Constitution of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, virtually all power is
invested in President Islam Karimov. During his
extended authoritarian rule the president has
demonstrated an active commitment to controlling the information environment in the country
and constraining the expression of dissident
viewpoints. The active opposition has been
forced to leave the country. For them, the Internet
often remains the only way to communicate with
Uzbek society. The complex series of laws and
regulations have resulted in self-censorship of
online publishers, independent journalists, and
bloggers. This, complemented with a restrictive
Internet filtering regime, significantly stifles public
discourse on political and human rights topics.
Uzbekistan’s control of the Internet embodies the most pervasive regime of filtering and
censorship in the CIS. It stands in stark contrast
to the government’s official enthusiasm for information and communications technology (ICT)
development and the Internet. Until 2001
Uzbekistan was a regional leader in the adoption
of the Internet and the prioritization of ICTs
as a mechanism for national development.
Uzbekistan was among the first of the post-Soviet
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
No evidence
Suspected
Selective
Substantial
Pervasive
Filtering
of filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
Political
●
Social
●
Conflict/security
●
Internet tools
●
Other factors
Low
Medium
High
Not applicable
Transparency
●
Consistency
●
Uzbekistan