Censorship in Bhutan

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Censorship in Bhutan is comparable to its South Asian neighbours, although not as focused or systematic as censorship in China.^{[citation needed]} All news media in Bhutan are controlled by the government; there is no guaranteed government information, even for minor things such as the number of prisoners being held. There is only one government-owned newspaper, the Kuensel, and two private newspapers and one internet service provider. However, there is little protest against government censorship; indeed, some call for wider censorship of foreign media, believing it deteriorates traditional values.

Censorship online is comparatively lax. The official forums of the Kuensel allow open criticism of the government though the forums are moderated, and anyone can post from an Internet café. The forums of news portals such as The Bhutan Times (www.bhutantimes.com) is much less moderated and provide greater opportunities for free expression. This website however has been blocked by BICMA, Bhutan's media regulatory body, since 15 June 2007 and is no longer accessible to people within Bhutan.

Bhutan's new monarch, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck who is western-educated and modern in his outlook has also expressed his belief that transparency in government leads to good governance.