Tajikistan Introduces Controversial “Ethics Code” For Internet Users · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

A set of “ethical” guidelines for the users of internet services and personal electronic devices has been developed in Tajikistan. The “Ethics Code for an e-Citizen”, presented in Dushanbe on October 11, seeks to provide the country's information and telecommunication technology (ICT) users with a moral framework for using familiar ethical standards while talking on the phone or surfing the internet.
Tajikistan Monitor has translated the document into English:
We, the members of digital information society, adopt the Ethics Code for an e-Citizen and urge [everyone] to follow in virtual space ethical standards they use in real life.
The norms of this Ethics Code apply to instances of communication via a mobile phone and on the world wide net…
The document was developed jointly by the president's office, state-run telecommunication agency, organizations representing the country's internet and mobile service providers, and several NGOs. According to Radio Ozodi [tj], a working group including representatives from these organizations will shortly put together a commentary to this brief document.
Although mainstream media in the country have largely ignored the presentation of the Ethics Code, netizens did notice the document. On Twitter, several Tajikistani users have discussed possible consequences of the adoption of this document.
В Душанбе рассмотрели «Этический кодекс электронного гражданина» http://t.co/QRubDp2iQA #Таджикистан
— Шапараки Овора (@du15yak30) October 12, 2013
An “Ethics Code for an e-Citizen” has been discussed in Dushanbe http://t.co/QRubDp2iQA #Tajikistan
Это шутка или как? Как они собираются знакомить людей с этим кодексом? Как наказывать тех, кто не соблюдает? http://t.co/QRubDp2iQA
— Шапараки Овора (@du15yak30) October 12, 2013
Is this a joke or what? How are they going to make people aware of this code? How will they punish those who do not observe [it]? http://t.co/QRubDp2iQA
Jasur Ashurov suggests that the authorities might have developed the ethical code in order to justify the blocking of websites that are used to disseminate content critical of the government. He recalls that Tajikistan has blocked access to several websites, including Facebook and YouTube, over the recent years:
@du15yak30 Увидели что оппозиция вся на фейсбуке и в одноклассниках вот и засуетились. Теперь будут блокировать сайты по причине неэтичности
— Jasur Ashurov (@jashurov) October 12, 2013
@du15yak30 They see that the opposition is actively using Facebook and Odnoklassniki [Russian social network service] and now all this hustle. They will now block websites due to their being unethical.
He also revisits a recent story when Beg Zukhurov, the director of the country's state-run telecommunications agency, invited Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to visit him and discuss the reasons why the social network was blocked in Tajikistan:
@du15yak30 Или же Бег будет звонить Цукербергу и просить того удалить определенных пользователей, ибо этический кодекс не соблюдают (:
— Jasur Ashurov (@jashurov) October 12, 2013
@du15yak30 Or Beg [Zukhurov] will be calling Zuckerberg and asking him to delete certain users’ profile for not observing the code (:
This image portrays smiling Tajik President as saying, “Have you read the Ethical Code? It was written by Beg [Zukhurov]”. Image from Digital Tajikistan blog, used with permission.
On this image, Tajikistan's infamous telecommunications agency chief Beg Zukhurov is portrayed as saying, “Have you seen this Facebook? It is totally unethical”. Image from Digital Tajikistan blog, used with permission.
Digital Tajikistan suggests that the development of the Ethics Code reflects a broader trend in Tajikistan:
@jashurov @du15yak30 Вообще власти взялись за интернет. Нужно бы теперь поосторожнее быть в выражениях. Большой брат смотрит за нами!
— Digital Tajikistan (@DigitalTajik) October 13, 2013
@jashurov @du15yak30 Overall, the authorities are now paying much closer attention to the internet. Now we have to be more careful about what we say. The big brother is watching us!
Some netizens do not know what to make of the Ethics Code given that it tries to regulate so many things at once. Arzanda writes:
This document looks like a salad, with everything mixed in it, from ‘Thou shalt not be loud when speaking on the phone’ to ‘Thou shalt speak Tajik’ to ‘Thou shalt not plagiarise’.
Yet some believe that the country does indeed require such a document. Zukhra comments [tj] on Radio Ozodi:
Бисьёр хуб мешуд, одоби муомилаи интернетиро ба тартиб меовардед, хеле беодобихо бисьёранд, ин хел муомила миллати точикро хеле ба пасти мезананд, баъзан чунон хакоратхои кабех ба назар мерасанд, умед дорам чорахои бехтарин ба ин хел инсонхо насиб мегардад!, ки дар оянда чукуртар фикру андеша карда баъд менависанд.
It will be very good if you create some order in discussions on the internet. There are many uneducated [impolite] people there. Their discussions bring shame onto the Tajik nation. Sometimes they use terrible swear words. I hope [these] good measures will be to such people's benefit and will cause these people to think carefully before writing [content on the internet].
On this image, Tajik president is portrayed as telling a boy using a computer, “Before you open Facebook, read the Ethics Code”. Image from Digital Tajikistan blog, used with permission.
It is not clear at the moment whether and how the authorities are going to use the ethics code. Tajikistan Monitor concludes:
It remains to be seen what the authorities are going to do with this document. The code is not a law, which means that netizens cannot be formally penalized for not observing it. Yet, in Tajikistan with its unpredictable way of reacting to criticism on the internet, you never know.