two CDMA. The government estimates that 60 percent of the population uses mobile
services.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
The Kazakh government exhibits an ambiguous and at times contradictory approach
to the Internet. The long-term development strategy of Kazakhstan for 2030 14 demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to create a modern national information
infrastructure. The government has announced plans to develop e-government as a
part of a 2005–2007 program. 15 Since 2008, government officials have been encouraged to create their own personal blogs. 16 At the same time, the government follows a
multilevel information security policy, which maintains surveillance of telecommunications and Internet traffic in the country.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) is the main policymaker and
regulator in the telecommunications market. The Agency for Informatization and
Communication (AIC), a central executive body in the IT field, is authorized to implement state policy in telecommunications and information technology development
industries, exercise control in these sectors, and issue licenses to every type of telecommunications service. 17 The Security Council (SC), a body chaired by the president, is
responsible for drafting decisions and providing assistance to the head of state on
issues of defense and national security. 18 The SC also prepares a list of Web sites every
six months that should be blocked or forbidden from distribution. A 2005 SC decision
made it illegal for key national security bodies to connect to the Internet (namely, the
Ministries of Emergency Situations, Internal Affairs, and Defense, and the National
Security Committee). However, despite this prohibition, ONI field researchers found
evidence that state officials access forbidden Web sites using dial-up accounts and anonymizer applications.
The security system in Kazakhstan is complex and multilayered. The InterDepartmental Commission is charged with coordinating and developing the national
information infrastructure. The National Security Committee (NSC) monitors presidential, government, and military communications. The Office of the Prime Minister
is an authorized state body responsible for the protection of state secrets and maintenance of information security. Broadly defined, a ‘‘state secret’’ encompasses various
government policies as well as information about the president’s private life, health,
and financial affairs. The NSC has issued a general license to the private Agency on
Information Security to establish and organize facilities for cryptographic protection
of information, as well as to formulate proposals on information security to state
organizations, corporate clients, banks, and other large commercial companies.
The Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs operates Department ‘‘K’’, which bears the
functions of its counterpart in the Russian Federation. This department is tasked
186
Kazakhstan
services.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
The Kazakh government exhibits an ambiguous and at times contradictory approach
to the Internet. The long-term development strategy of Kazakhstan for 2030 14 demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to create a modern national information
infrastructure. The government has announced plans to develop e-government as a
part of a 2005–2007 program. 15 Since 2008, government officials have been encouraged to create their own personal blogs. 16 At the same time, the government follows a
multilevel information security policy, which maintains surveillance of telecommunications and Internet traffic in the country.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) is the main policymaker and
regulator in the telecommunications market. The Agency for Informatization and
Communication (AIC), a central executive body in the IT field, is authorized to implement state policy in telecommunications and information technology development
industries, exercise control in these sectors, and issue licenses to every type of telecommunications service. 17 The Security Council (SC), a body chaired by the president, is
responsible for drafting decisions and providing assistance to the head of state on
issues of defense and national security. 18 The SC also prepares a list of Web sites every
six months that should be blocked or forbidden from distribution. A 2005 SC decision
made it illegal for key national security bodies to connect to the Internet (namely, the
Ministries of Emergency Situations, Internal Affairs, and Defense, and the National
Security Committee). However, despite this prohibition, ONI field researchers found
evidence that state officials access forbidden Web sites using dial-up accounts and anonymizer applications.
The security system in Kazakhstan is complex and multilayered. The InterDepartmental Commission is charged with coordinating and developing the national
information infrastructure. The National Security Committee (NSC) monitors presidential, government, and military communications. The Office of the Prime Minister
is an authorized state body responsible for the protection of state secrets and maintenance of information security. Broadly defined, a ‘‘state secret’’ encompasses various
government policies as well as information about the president’s private life, health,
and financial affairs. The NSC has issued a general license to the private Agency on
Information Security to establish and organize facilities for cryptographic protection
of information, as well as to formulate proposals on information security to state
organizations, corporate clients, banks, and other large commercial companies.
The Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs operates Department ‘‘K’’, which bears the
functions of its counterpart in the Russian Federation. This department is tasked
186
Kazakhstan