烏茲別克's internet is filtered by the state-controlled Uzbektelecom, which manages international internet gateways. Under former President Karimov (who ruled until 2016), 烏茲別克 was one of the most censored countries in the world, blocking virtually all independent media and opposition websites. Under President Mirziyoyev, some reforms have occurred - several previously blocked news sites have been unblocked - but significant censorship persists.
Currently blocked content includes opposition political websites, some international human rights organization sites, and content critical of the president and government. The government also blocks some VPN services and has been observed throttling encrypted traffic during politically sensitive periods. Religious content deemed extremist is also heavily filtered.
烏茲別克's surveillance capabilities include SORM (System of Operative Investigative Activities), the Russian-origin telecommunications monitoring system that gives security services direct access to internet traffic. This system allows real-time monitoring of communications without ISP cooperation. Bloggers and journalists have been imprisoned for online content, though the frequency of such prosecutions has decreased since the Karimov era.