Attendees at the Belarus Internet Governance Forum debated strategies to combat false information spread on broadcast platforms and social media networks
The Belarus Internet Governance Forum (IGF) recently convened on November 15, 2021, in Minsk, attracting participants from both Belarus and abroad. Organised by the largest registrar of .by and .бел domains, this event serves as a national multistakeholder platform, bringing together government, business, technical, academic, and ordinary internet users to discuss internet governance challenges and developments within Belarus.
Key topics discussed at the forum included the state of internet access and digital rights in Belarus, amid ongoing concerns about censorship, restrictions, and the blocking of online resources by authorities. The impact of anti-extremism legislation used by the government to limit independent information sources and restrict online expression was also a significant focus. Challenges related to internet censorship and control, including the labeling and blocking of thousands of websites considered “extremist” by the regime, were also extensively debated.
Broader discussions on governance models and how Belarus fits into regional and global internet governance frameworks, including multistakeholder approaches, were also on the agenda. Given the political context, discussions often included the harsh measures against dissent and independent media practiced by the Belarusian government, especially following the 2020 political crisis and protests. Civil society representatives stressed the need for transparency, accountable governance, and protecting fundamental digital rights in Belarus.
In addition to these critical discussions, the forum also focused on technological advancements and their impact on the profession of journalism. The advent of social networks and messengers has significantly shrunk the time frame for reacting to news, noted speakers. The cooperation aims to implement advanced practices in personal data protection, with the partnership between LLC "Reliable Programs" (hoster.by) and the National Center for Personal Data Protection being a significant step towards this goal.
The partnership, which focuses on ensuring personal data protection in the context of the forum, aims for long-term cooperation in the field of personal data protection. The parties agreed on mutual cooperation on issues related to information security and also agreed on joint events, research, and expert cooperation. The forum is the largest open platform in Belarus for discussing internet development and serves as an essential venue for dialogue about internet governance under Belarus’s increasingly restrictive environment.
The Belarus IGF aligns with the global IGF’s aim of fostering multistakeholder dialogue on internet governance issues essential to Belarus’s internet freedom and digital development. While exact session details from the November 2021 event are not fully disclosed, the focus on internet censorship, closing digital space for free expression, and governance challenges clearly framed the event’s agenda. A section of the forum also discussed countering fake news and distinguishing true information from false, underscoring the forum’s commitment to promoting digital literacy and combating misinformation.
- The forum's agenda, aligned with the global IGF's aim, included discussions on countering fake news and promoting digital literacy to combat misinformation, as part of Belarus's strive for digital development and internet freedom.
- Amid concerns about censorship, restrictions, and the blocking of online resources, the impact of anti-extremism legislation on education-and-self-development, general-news, and technology was a significant focus at the Belarus IGF, with civil society representatives stressing the need for transparency, accountable governance, and protecting fundamental digital rights.
