Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passes controversial bill on manipulation of information

AKIPRESS.COM - The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the bill on manipulation of information in the second and third readings on June 25.
The bill envisions restriction of access to information having signs of false or inaccurate information until its removal or entry of the court ruling into effect.
The bill was passed with 79 votes for it. 10 MPs voted against the bill.
Initiated by PMP Gulshat Asylbayeva (Onuguu-Progress) and MP Ainura Osmonova (SDPK), the bill suggests that the actions with use of Internet are recognized as such committed on the territory of Kyrgyzstan in case the actions leading to legal consequences were committed by a person during physical presence on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and beyond it.
The owner of the website and (or) page must not allow spread of false or inaccurate information; must restrict or prohibit access to outlawed information; should moderate the website or website pages; should indicate the last name and initials, e-mail address.
The Internet provider should keep all traffic and information about users for 6 months, provide it to law enforcement agencies and courts.
The authors of the bill say it was prepared for the purpose of stabilization and regulation of spread of false information.
The bill does not stipulate who and on what basis will decide whether the information is inaccurate or false; in what way and at whose expense Internet providers should store information for 6 months.
The adoption of the bills was opposed by civil activists, human rights groups, media organizations and activists.
Media experts and lawyers say the bill restricts freedom of expression and rights of citizens of access to information.