Kyrgyzstan internet law raises fears for free speech in COVID fog

Critics say bill, ostensibly aimed at false virus info, would enable corruption

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Ignoring official warnings, hundreds of protestors marched through Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek earlier this week in a last-ditch attempt to stop legislation that would significantly restrict free speech online.

Some say the law could do much more than that -- potentially becoming a tool to block allegations of a murky web of corruption.

The proposed legislation, which was passed by Kyrgyzstan's parliament on June 25 and now awaits President Sooronbai Jeenbekov's signature, would allow the government to censor online information it deems "false" or "inaccurate" by cutting off access to websites and closing social media accounts without a court ruling. It would also require internet service providers to collect verified information on users and store it for six months.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Kyrgyzstan-internet-law-raises-fears-for-free-speech-in-COVID-fog

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