However, censorship in Bhutan is still conducted by restrictions on the ownership of media outlets, licensing of journalists, and the blocking of websites.
[6] The constitution provides for freedom of speech including for members of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice.
[7] Government officials said forum discussions on bhutantimes.com were too critical of Minister Sangey Nidup, maternal uncle of the king.
[1] BICMA's censorship pattern appears to reflect individual sensitivities of people who may have been discussed online.
From 2016-2018, there have been two new cases regarding the prosecution of journalists who posted on their personal Facebook accounts about property disputes and child mistreatment.
[1] While the facts of these two incidents happened to be true, they both were still sentenced to 3 months in prison and required to pay a heavy fine.
Bhutan is praised for its high level of "gross domestic happiness" [3] but its people are beginning to face increasingly strict censorship in the media.
BICMA is responsible for regulating communications, their technology, and their means in Bhutan[9][10] The Act provides for considerable discretion, including that consideration be given to "peace, stability and well-being" in taking over communications services and facilities,[10]: 14 intercepting communications,[10]: 15 regulatory rulemaking,[10]: 33 issuing permits to publish materials,[10]: 97 show films,[10]: 108, 113 and perform dramas,[10]: 115, 120 blocking access to protest websites,[10]: 176 and banning certain foreign publications in the national interest.
[10]: 100 The Act further provides penalties for failure to comply with prohibitory orders by BICMA, and empowers the government to enter private property to search and seize when the agency "reasonably suspects" regulatory violations.
[3] The older National Security Act is a series of sixteen articles enacted by Parliament on November 2, 1992.