Kazakhstan Uncensored

The research is focused on specific elements of current legislation and provisions related to digital rights and freedom of expression that impact the media and civil society in the context of censorship and self-censorship. Under the guidance of PF «Wings of Liberty», the research included:

1. Analytical review
2. Online surveys for media workers
3. In-depth interviews with experts on the specified topics
4. Closed group consultations following data analysis and report drafting through dialogue platforms.

The final report will be distributed in both Kazakh and Russian languages to ensure maximum engagement with the findings.

These activities are carried out with the aim of discussing and disseminating research results, as well as encouraging public participation and interaction in debates on freedom of expression and digital rights.

• On March 27, 2023, in Almaty, a press lunch was held to mark the project’s launch and to discuss the commencement of the research.
• On April 14, 2023, in Almaty, a workshop titled “Finding Ways for Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights in Kazakhstan” took place.
• On July 18, 2023, a roundtable discussion was organized in Astana to discuss the preliminary research results.
• On October 11, 2024, an online event was held to review the outcomes of informational campaigns on cybersecurity and digital rights in Kazakhstan, which received financial and technical support as part of the “Kazakhstan Uncensored” project funded by the European Union.
• On November 28, 2024, a concluding event titled “Project Results and Sustainability Strategy” took place in Astana, bringing together activists, journalists, civil society representatives, project partners, and donors.

For more detailed information about past events, you can find it in the “Events” tab. For details about upcoming events, please contact the project coordinator.

After the online training on October 4-5, 2023, as part of the “Kazakhstan Uncensored” project to strengthen the capacity of media and civil society representatives, two-day offline training sessions were held in Almaty (November 8-9, 2023) and Astana (November 17-18, 2023). The training covered topics such as freedom of expression, digital rights, physical and cybersecurity, censorship, and self-censorship. During the training, journalists and civil society representatives learned how to best protect themselves from threats that infiltrate their personal lives as a result of their professional activities, as well as how to protect their devices. Participants actively engaged in discussions and expressed their intention to apply the acquired knowledge in their work and share it with colleagues.

Among the participants of the past training sessions, those who demonstrated significant potential and skills for implementing information campaigns were selected to participate in the workshop, held on March 14-15, 2024, in Almaty.

On the first day of the workshop, existing types and examples of public/information campaigns and content creation were reviewed, and key issues and problems in the field of digital rights and freedom of expression in Kazakhstan were identified.

On the second day, participants worked in mixed groups consisting of civil society and media representatives to create understandable content. Each group developed a prototype information campaign.

Participants emphasized the importance of collaboration and the protection of digital rights in their feedback.

Among the plans developed by the workshop participants, four information campaigns were selected on a competitive basis for financial and technical support within the project framework. All campaigns aim to raise public awareness about digital rights and cybersecurity.

The implementation period for the information campaigns is from May to August 2024.

1st Informational Campaign: “Digital Literacy: From Button to Click!”

• Ranked among the top 10 best effect creators on TikTok.
• Developed a mask called “Teach a Boomer,” aimed at educating the older generation about digital rights.
• Journalists from Nur.kz (1M Instagram followers) requested an article on cybersecurity for children.

2nd Informational Campaign: “Digital Voices: Empowering Rural Youth”

• Published an article in Kazakh titled “Digital Security: How to Protect Personal Data?” in the regional newspaper Ortalyq Qazaqstan.
• The chief editor highly praised the topic for further exploration.
• Created 38 media products as part of the campaign.

3rd Informational Campaign: “Children and Networks”

• Produced podcasts featuring an IT expert discussing online child protection and a psychologist addressing cybersecurity for children.
• Inspired a teacher seminar on child cybersecurity in Karaganda before the start of the academic year.

4th Informational Campaign: “#Digital Care”

• Collaborated with the local Department for Combating Cybercrime.
• Created 15 informational posts with practical, legal, and technical advice on protecting digital rights and guidance for those who fall victim to fraud.
• Released educational videos highlighting threats in cyberspace.

Materials and articles on the subject of digital rights, freedom of expression, and digital security.