How White Hat Institute Works in Kazakhstan
White hat hackers of Kazakhstan can legally hack information systems not only of private, but also of state companies. This right was granted to them in December 2023, when legislative amendments became effective, which,...
Kazakhstan: How Process of ‘Public Enemies’ Formation is Tested on LGBTIQ+ Community and Why
A petition against the propaganda of LGBT was published in less than a month on a special website in Kazakhstan. The petition gathered 50 thousand signatures over a short period of time....
Will Customer of Kazakh Journalist’s Assassination Be Found?
Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov died after the assassination attempt on July 2, 2024. Who decided to assassinate Aidos Sadykov and why and if real customers of the assassination will be found –...
“You Are Under Surveillance: What Cases Against Niyazov and Maricheva Mean for All Journalists of Kazakhstan
The error in facts was recognised as socially dangerous, while a repost was almost recognised as defamation. These were only the last two events when journalists of Kazakhstan were under pressure. When...
Kazakhstan Discusses TikTok Blocking. What Is The Risk For Other Social Media?
Kazakhstan discusses a possible blocking of TikTok or restriction of access to the platform. What is the motivation behind it and whether it is possible to apply existing laws to counter unlawful...
Why Is It Good that Media in Kazakhstan Cover Freely the Trial of Ex-minister Charged of Killing His Wife
Ex-minister of national economy of Kazakhstan Kuandyk Bishimbaev is charged of brutal killing and torture of his common-law wife Saltanat Nukenova. The case is decided by the jury. The process is live-streamed...
More Pressure on Media in Central Asian States
The situation with the freedom of speech in Central Asia has become worse over the last few years. The countries of the region apply new restrictions to bloggers and the media, block...
How Russian Propaganda Affects Kazakh-Speaking Media
The Russian propaganda in Kazakhstan, especially propaganda of war in Ukraine, spreads beyond the Russian-speaking audience. Experts consider it an alarming sign.
How Journalists of Kazakhstan Protect Themselves From Massive Cyber-Attacks
R.I.P’ was written four thousand times in the comments to the YouTube channel ‘Obozhayu’. The threats were addressed to the founder of the channel, Askhat Niyazov, who publishes his critical interviews, which...
What Data Google and Other Search Engines Collect about You and How to Prevent Them from Doing It
Google and Yandex are the most popular search engines in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstanis use them every day for different purposes, but often forget (or are unaware of) that these engines actively store and...
“They Will Be Hated”: How Media Criticism Works in Central Asia
In Central Asian states, criticism of journalistic materials by journalists has failed to become peculiar to the media community. CABAR.asia figures out why it happened so.
PF “Wings of Liberty” and IWPR conducted research on access to information and freedom of expression in Kazakhstan
The specialized legislation regulating freedom of speech, expression of opinions, and mass media in Kazakhstan is outdated and does not align with modern challenges. Moreover, the media sector and civil society lack...
The Doors are Closing: How Access to Key Newsmakers Has Been Restricted for Journalists in Kazakhstan
Sometimes journalists of Kazakhstan have to catch running ministers in corridors, literally hustle into government elevators to ask questions to high-ranking officials and always be prepared for a detention by the police...
How New Media Influence Authority in Kazakhstan
‘Not just for your information’ – this is the principle of work of new media in Kazakhstan. They try to establish communication between the society and authority, to make officials revise their...
What Problems Are Faced by New Media Outlets of Kazakhstan?
Journalists of Kazakhstan count on online journalism and choose Instagram as the key platform. A large number of followers on Instagram allows one to make money by attracting advertisers. But to make a media outlet profitable, one should gain popularity and respect in society. How one can do it without money at the very beginning?
Kazakhstan: On-camera Public Apologies Dangerous to Society
On-camera apologies of offenders have become a distinct genre in Kazakhstan. Speed-limit offenders, people suspected of separatism, TikTokers, businesspersons, officials and other citizens apology for their offences.
How to Avoid Personal Data Leak and What to Do If It Occurs?
Today a person shares personal information almost with all: online platforms, government institutions, private companies. These data can be leaked to the internet, or even worse they can be stolen. Therefore, one needs to learn how to protect personal information.
Kazakhstan Deals with Bloggers: How They Will be Controlled
The parliament of Kazakhstan passed the law to bind bloggers pay internet advertising taxes and to counter fake news.
The authors of the draft law claim that the need for regulation of bloggers’ activity and online space arose a long time ago because of the active online scam, cyberbullying and illegal advertising.
Right to Digital Oblivion: Is It Possible in Kazakhstan?
Can Kazakhstanis delete fake information about them from the internet? Is Kazakhstan going to introduce the right to oblivion at all? And if it does, won’t it damage the freedom of speech? CABAR.asia talked about it to Ruslan Daiyrbekov, director of law firm DRCQ, founder of Eurasian Digital Foundation, who develops projects on protection of digital human rights and on studying internet in the Eurasian space.
Why is There Self-Censorship in Kazakhstan-based Media?
“There is no opposition”, this sign was hanging in the editorial office of the pro-government media and showed that those who criticise authority in Kazakhstan must not be mentioned at all. The sign is considered a fake story told by journalists, but there’s some truth in it – Kazakhstan-based media practise self-censorship. CABAR.asia figures out why journalists become self-censors.
Kazakhstan: How to Find Balance between Information Security and Freedom of Speech?
Kazakhstan has approved the information doctrine. Its purpose is to ensure information security in the country “amid historical turbulence.” Will the document be able to protect freedom of speech, which is recognised in the doctrine as the basis of interaction between participants of information sphere?
Data Loss and Internet Shutdowns: What Violates Digital Rights of Kazakhstanis?
The internet penetration rate in Kazakhstan approaches 90 per cent. It carries both new opportunities and new problems for users – the state can violate digital rights of its citizens. CABAR.asia figured out what digital rights are and what is considered a violation and restriction of rights in the digital environment.
Kazakhstan: Authorities Suggest Qualifying All Internet as Mass Media and Name It As Such
The government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is remaking the law “On news media” into the law “On mass media”. CABAR.asia figures out why the authorities try to qualify all digital content creators as mass media, what will change for bloggers, and what other innovations the law will bring.
From DDoS Attacks to Pig Head: Who is Hunting Journalists in Kazakhstan?
In 2022, Kazakhstan rose in the press freedom index from 155 to 122 out of 180 countries. Despite this fact, violation of the rights of journalists continues, with increased cases of threats and intimidations of journalists. In January 2023, five attacks were committed against mass media workers in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: How to Protect Digital Sovereignty of the Country?
Roskomnadzor sends notices to Kazakhstan media demanding to remove content related to the war in Ukraine. Does Roskomnadzor have the right to send demands to the media other than Russian, and can these demands be called the attempt upon the digital sovereignty of Kazakhstan?