The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan has passed sweeping legislation outlawing access to pornographic content online, marking the country’s most extensive internet censorship measure to date.

The bill, approved by a vote of 60 to 1 on June 25, prohibits the distribution of pornographic material across Kyrgyzstan’s digital space and mandates swift removal or blocking of offending content.

The legislation, officially titled “On Prohibition of Access to Sites Containing Pornographic Content Elements in the Internet Space of the Kyrgyz Republic,” passed in both its second and third readings and now awaits the signature of President Sadyr Japarov.

If enacted, the law will require:

• Website operators to remove pornographic content within 24 hours of receiving an official government request.
• Telecommunications providers to block access to sites that fail to comply, with penalties including suspension for up to two months and bans on launching new domains.
• Creation of a centralized blacklist of prohibited websites, to be overseen by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Backers of the bill argue the measure is necessary to “protect the moral and ethical values of society.” One of the bill’s sponsors, MP Muradil Sydykov, stated, “The distribution of pornography is destroying the spiritual, moral, and ethical form of people’s consciousness.”

This latest action builds on previous steps taken by the Kyrgyz government, including a 2024 ban on the webcam industry, which criminalized the organization or facilitation of online sex work. Under that law, organizers can face up to 15 years in prison, and individual performers may be fined.

Despite overwhelming support, MP Dastan Bekeshev cast the lone dissenting vote and criticized the bill as redundant and potentially harmful. During the debate, Bekeshev noted that Kyrgyzstan already prohibits child pornography and harmful content to minors.

“Maybe adults should be allowed access to such content, at least with a password?” he asked. “If you ban everything online, people will start looking for it on the streets.”

He also questioned the law’s effectiveness, arguing that blocking sites would simply drive users to VPNs and other circumvention tools. Officials acknowledged this limitation, with Deputy Minister of Culture Marat Togaev admitting that existing infrastructure cannot prevent access via encrypted channels.

Should the law be signed, enforcement responsibilities will fall to the Ministry of Digital Development and the telecom sector, which are expected to manage takedown requests and blocklists. Citizens will also have the ability to file complaints about online pornography, triggering official review.

The law applies to both domestic and international websites, closing what lawmakers saw as a major loophole in prior legislation, which was restricted to locally registered domains.

President Japarov, who previously endorsed legislation banning the webcam industry, is widely expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days. Critics warn that the move could further limit digital freedoms and open the door to broader censorship, while supporters see it as a necessary step toward reinforcing public morality.