Belarus's Internet Censorship: A Ban On Freedom Of Expression

Belarus has a history of internet censorship and disruption, with the government enforcing restrictions on online content and access. In 2020, during a wave of pro-democracy protests sparked by the fraudulent reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, the country experienced widespread internet disruptions. These disruptions were attributed to government interference, despite official claims of foreign cyberattacks. The government has also blocked websites, including independent news sources, and restricted access to virtual private networks (VPNs) and other censorship circumvention tools. Belarus has introduced new laws equating internet resources with traditional media, requiring registration for internet sites and their owners to be recognized as journalists. These laws, implemented ahead of the 2020 elections, are indicative of the government's intention to control online activism and silence opposition. The situation in Belarus highlights the challenges faced by citizens under authoritarian rule, as they seek to express themselves and hold their government accountable.

Internet shutdowns during elections and unrest

Internet shutdowns during elections and civil unrest are a common tool used by governments to restrict the flow of information and communication between citizens. Belarus is one of many countries that has employed this tactic in recent years.

The Case of Belarus

Belarus has a history of internet shutdowns, particularly during elections. In 2020, the country experienced a significant internet disruption during its presidential election, which resulted in an information vacuum as citizens struggled to access news and connect with the outside world. The government, led by authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, was accused of imposing these shutdowns to throttle dissent and silence opposition voices.

Impact of Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns have a profound impact on society, especially during elections and civil unrest. In the case of Belarus, the shutdown disrupted the free flow of information, making it difficult for citizens to access news and connect with the international community. This created an information vacuum, leaving citizens in the dark about the election results and the ongoing protests.

Strategies to Circumvent Shutdowns

During the 2020 election in Belarus, protesters and activists employed various strategies to circumvent the internet shutdown. They used virtual private networks (VPNs) and the Tor browser to access blocked websites and social media platforms. Additionally, they relied on Telegram, a messaging app that provided a platform for organizing and coordinating protests.

Government Response

The Belarusian government denied allegations of intentionally shutting down the internet. President Lukashenko blamed the outages on foreign cyberattacks and claimed they were beyond his government's control. However, independent experts and human rights organizations attributed the disruptions to government interference, specifically citing actions by the state-owned internet service provider, Beltelecom.

International Response

The international community, including the United States and the European Union, condemned the internet shutdown in Belarus. They recognized the importance of internet access during elections and civil unrest, emphasizing the need for transparency and the protection of human rights.

A Global Phenomenon

Internet shutdowns during elections and civil unrest are not unique to Belarus. Other countries, such as Iran, Ethiopia, and India, have also employed similar tactics to restrict online access and control the flow of information. These actions have been met with widespread criticism and have prompted calls for the protection of digital rights and online freedom.

Government-imposed connectivity blackouts

Belarus has a history of imposing connectivity blackouts, particularly during times of protest and civil unrest. These blackouts are often accompanied by censorship and suppression of independent media outlets.

In August 2020, during the controversial 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent protests, the country experienced widespread internet shutdowns. The government blamed these disruptions on foreign cyberattacks, specifically large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. However, independent experts and monitoring groups attributed the disruptions to government interference. The blackout included landline phones and cellular services, in addition to internet connectivity.

The government has the technical capacity to implement such disruptions due to its centralized control over the country's internet infrastructure. State-owned companies, such as Beltelecom, control both the mobile data network and the country's interconnection points with the international internet. This allows the government to force internet service providers (ISPs) to block specific websites or implement broader outages.

The 2020 election blackout was not an isolated incident. In 2010, the government enacted a law that allowed them to force Belarusian ISPs to block sites within 24 hours. Additionally, a law that took effect in 2012 required all commercial websites selling goods or services to Belarusian citizens to operate from within the country and use a ".by" domain name. This made the operations of companies like Amazon and eBay illegal unless they complied with the regime's censorship.

The government has also targeted internet cafes and private residences, requiring owners and individuals to monitor and restrict access to foreign websites. Failure to comply results in hefty fines or other penalties. These measures effectively turn citizens into state spies, further limiting free expression and access to information.

The Belarusian government's actions have drawn criticism and concern from human rights organizations and the international community. Reporters Without Borders ranked Belarus 154th out of 178 countries in its 2010 Press Freedom Index, and the country's ranking has continued to decline due to ongoing media suppression.

Cyberattacks as a cover-up

The Belarusian government has a history of censorship and controlling the narrative of state media. The internet freedom of Belarusians has been restricted and suppressed by the government, particularly during times of protest and civil unrest.

In 2020, following the controversial reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, the country experienced an internet blackout. Lukashenko denied that the government was trying to shut down the internet, instead blaming "foreign forces" for the outages. However, independent experts and monitoring groups attributed the disruptions to government interference.

The government-owned ISP, RUE Beltelecom, claimed it was working to restore service after "multiple cyberattacks of varying intensity." This claim was met with skepticism by outside observers, who found no indication of a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, a connectivity tracking group, stated that the outages appeared to be the result of a brute-force blocking strategy rather than a specific DDoS attack.

The internet blackout in Belarus effectively slowed down protest groups' ability to coordinate anti-government action. The disruption extended to virtual private networks (VPNs), commonly used as a workaround during internet outages or censorship.

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, there were anecdotal indications that the outages were planned, and the government may have warned some businesses and institutions in advance. For example, a Russian newspaper published an interview with a salesperson who warned journalists about potential connectivity outages. Additionally, a post circulating on Telegram claimed to show an email from a Belarusian bank employee warning of possible digital banking outages.

The government's actions during this time can be interpreted as an attempt to control the flow of information and restrict access to independent media outlets. This is supported by the fact that once internet connectivity was restored, reports of police brutality during the protests spread, leading even more people to join the demonstrations.

The Belarusian government's response to the 2020 election protests and the internet blackout that accompanied them can be seen as a cover-up to maintain control of the narrative and suppress dissent. By disrupting internet access and restricting online content, the government aimed to demobilize protests and prevent the spread of information about police brutality.

Laws requiring internet cafe owners to monitor users

Since 2007, internet cafe owners in Belarus have been required to keep records of their customers' identities and the websites they visit, facilitating inspection by the security services. This is part of a broader set of laws that enforce censorship in Belarus, despite it being prohibited by the country's constitution.

Internet Shutdowns

In 2020, Belarus faced widespread disruptions to mobile internet access due to the protests that erupted across the country. President Alexander Lukashenko stated that the internet shutdown was carried out with his authorization, prioritizing the country's survival and future. He warned that a similar disruption would occur if the upcoming presidential elections, set for January 26, 2025, resemble the events of the previous election.

Online Censorship

The Belarusian government has been known to disrupt internet access and restrict online content in response to peaceful protests. In August 2020, during the Belarusian presidential election and subsequent protests, the internet in Belarus was partially blocked. While government officials attributed this to a heavy DDoS attack, independent IT specialists claimed that the state internet monopoly Beltelecom and affiliated agencies deliberately used Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology or traffic shaping.

The Belarusian authorities have blocked websites covering the presidential election, nationwide protests, and police brutality. Additionally, censorship circumvention services such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), used by millions to access blocked websites, have also been targeted.

Media Control

The Ministry of Information of Belarus, established in 2001, serves as the country's media regulator. Licensing and registration procedures are opaque and politicized, and independent publications are forced to use foreign-based internet domains. Websites can be blocked without a court order after two warnings within 12 months, and outlets that "threaten the state's interests" can be denied accreditation and shut down.

The government has established various committees and councils to evaluate media content and enforce compliance with laws, including counter-extremism legislation. Independent media outlets have faced significant challenges, with some being unable to print newspapers or forced to cease operations entirely.

Laws Restricting Freedom of Expression

Belarus has several laws that restrict freedom of expression, particularly when it comes to criticism of the government and its leaders. Insulting the president is punishable by up to five years in prison, and criticizing Belarus abroad can result in up to two years of imprisonment. Journalists have been harassed, detained, and even killed for reporting on unauthorized demonstrations, working with unregistered media outlets, or covering sensitive topics such as human rights abuses and the deteriorating economy.

Blocking of VPNs and other censorship circumvention services

Belarus has been dubbed "Europe's last dictatorship", with the country's internet freedom being heavily restricted. The government has been clamping down on online activism, with a new law effectively requiring everyone to be a state spy. All commercial activity online is now illegal unless conducted via a .by (Belarusian) domain name, making operations such as Amazon and eBay illegal unless they collaborate with the regime's censorship and register there. The law effectively implements the privatisation of state censorship, with everyone being required to be a state spy.

The government has also been blocking censorship circumvention services such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which are used by millions in Belarus to access blocked websites. In 2015, United Nations and regional organisation experts stated:

> "Using communications 'kill switches' (i.e. shutting down entire parts of communications systems) can never be justified under human rights law."

The government has also been blocking VPN services. On 21 August 2020, 72 or 73 websites were blocked in Belarus, including several independent news portals, electoral sites, human rights portals, and several VPN services.

Despite the official ban on VPNs, many Belarusians continue to use them to get around censorship. The use of encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram is also widespread, especially during political elections or pro-democracy protests, with people using secure messaging apps to organise themselves.

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