Kazakhstan
The Kazakh government has extended
its control over the Internet, even as it
seeks to liberalize the telecommunications market and position itself as a
major IT power in the region. The
state uses its significant regulatory
authority to ensure that all Internet
traffic passes through infrastructure
controlled by the dominant telecommunications provider KazakhTelecom.
Selective content filtering is widely used, and second- and third-generation control strategies are evident. Independent media and bloggers reportedly practice
self-censorship for fear of government reprisal.
Background
Kazakhstan has taken an authoritarian turn under the rule of President Nazarbayev,
who has served as head of state since national independence in 1991. Nazarbayev is
widely alleged to have manipulated results of elections and suppressed opposition to
remain in power. 1 Although press freedom is enshrined in the Constitution, the government controls mass media outlets and exerts influence over most printing and distribution establishments. 2 Anecdotal evidence points to online media and bloggers
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
The Kazakh government has extended
its control over the Internet, even as it
seeks to liberalize the telecommunications market and position itself as a
major IT power in the region. The
state uses its significant regulatory
authority to ensure that all Internet
traffic passes through infrastructure
controlled by the dominant telecommunications provider KazakhTelecom.
Selective content filtering is widely used, and second- and third-generation control strategies are evident. Independent media and bloggers reportedly practice
self-censorship for fear of government reprisal.
Background
Kazakhstan has taken an authoritarian turn under the rule of President Nazarbayev,
who has served as head of state since national independence in 1991. Nazarbayev is
widely alleged to have manipulated results of elections and suppressed opposition to
remain in power. 1 Although press freedom is enshrined in the Constitution, the government controls mass media outlets and exerts influence over most printing and distribution establishments. 2 Anecdotal evidence points to online media and bloggers
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency