Kyrgyzstan: MPs Back Internet Pornography Ban

The Kyrgyz parliament has passed a bill aimed at restricting access to pornographic content online, Orda.kz reports.

The legislation was supported by 60 deputies, with only one vote against.

According to the bill, websites hosting material with pornographic elements must be blocked within 24 hours of a complaint.

Individuals will be able to report such content to authorities, and site owners will be required to remove the material within the same timeframe. Failure to comply could result in the site being suspended for up to two months, with restrictions placed on launching new domains.

Committee chair Muradil Sydykov explained that the law is intended to safeguard society’s moral and ethical values, according to Kaktus.media.

Site owners can appeal block decisions in court. Access may be restored either by removing the disputed content or through a legal ruling. Violations will be subject to penalties under the Code of Offenses.

The law has raised concerns over enforcement, particularly regarding how “pornographic content” will be defined and who will be responsible for making that determination.

Earlier, MP Akkulu Berdiev argued that such content was contributing to a decline in the national birth rate.

Original Author: Alina Pak