Tajikistan Enforced Ethics Code to Prevent Online Farts

[Atreides]

Surprisingly enough, Tajikistan’s “Ethics Code for an e-Citizen†seems to be cracking down on… online farting, as it forbids “unpleasant soundsâ€. The code in question was hatched up by the executive branch, the state telecommunications entity, and telecom industry associations. It mostly covers personal information protection and human rights.

The document forbids talking loudly on mobile phones in public areas, playing loud music, and also using “unpleasant sounds†online. Apparently, to most it means bottom burps and belching, which seems to be big online in the country.

In the meantime, local government insists that the code on involuntary noises is in fact voluntary. However, human rights activists fear that the new policy can be used to stifle online speech (or belching).

Local media claimed that the ethics code is supposed to “prevent harassment, offense, slander, provocation, dissemination of immoral images and recordings, agitation and propaganda of terrorism, and other unacceptable activities in virtual spaceâ€. Of course, ordinary people weren’t involved in any of the discussions – even the guy who managed to belch the national anthem of Tajikistan after 3 pints of lager…