The international human rights organization Freedom House published its annual report Freedom on the Net 2023. It covers the period from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.
Kyrgyzstan was again included in the list of countries with «partly free» Internet. The republic scored 52 points out of 100 possible.
As the authors of the report note, Internet freedom worsened in Kyrgyzstan during the coverage period.
Authorities continued to engage in disproportionate and arbitrary blocking of online content during the coverage period. The government and judiciary’s broad application of antiextremism laws has impacted various websites hosting user-generated content. During the coverage period, the government began blocking websites under the Law on Protection from False Information.
«The government enforced the Law on Protection from False Information, which was enacted during the previous coverage period, to block news sites and force online news outlets to remove content. Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyzstan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was blocked after it posted a video depicting border clashes between the militaries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Ministry of Culture also tried to shut down the outlet; the parties reached a settlement after the coverage period. Courts also issued prison sentences to journalists and social media users who criticized the government online and deported Bolot Temirov, a prominent investigative journalist. In a positive development, internet access continued to improve, according to some measurement sources,» the report says.
Kazakhstan scored 34 points in the ranking, Belarus — 25, Russia — 21, Uzbekistan — 25, Georgia — 76, Armenia — 72. Iceland and Estonia are recognized as leaders in the rating. China and Myanmar have the worst Internet freedom situation in the world.
In general, as the report says, global internet freedom declined for the 13th consecutive year. The report’s authors see one of the reasons in the development of artificial intelligence technologies, which allow governments to more subtly and accurately carry out Internet censorship, quickly monitor signs of dissent on social media, identify and punish dissenters, and effectively spread disinformation.
Attacks on free expression grew more common around the world. In a record 55 of the 70 countries covered by Freedom on the Net, people faced legal repercussions for expressing themselves online, while people were physically assaulted or killed for their online commentary in 41 countries.
