白俄羅斯's 網際網路審查 escalated dramatically following the August 2020 presidential election. During the election and subsequent protests, the government imposed a near-total internet shutdown lasting three days - one of the most complete internet blackouts ever imposed in Europe. When connectivity was restored, dozens of independent news websites, Telegram channels, and social media platforms remained blocked.
The Operational Analytical Center (OAC) under the president manages 網際網路審查, working with Beltelecom (the state telecom monopoly that controls all international internet gateways). Blocked content includes the independent news outlets Tut.by, Nasha Niva, and Zerkalo.io, opposition Telegram channels, VPN provider websites, and human rights organization sites. The government has also blocked specific Tor 中繼 IP 位址.
The crackdown extends beyond censorship to prosecution. Over 1,500 people have faced criminal charges related to online activities since 2020, including for subscribing to opposition Telegram channels (which was criminalized in 2021), sharing protest videos, and criticizing the government online. Digital forensics on seized devices have been used as evidence, making device security and 匿名 communication tools critically important.