KAZAKHSTAN: NEW INTERNET DOMAIN REGULATIONS

UNCLAS ALMATY 002603

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA-
HELBLING),SCA/PPD (K. VANDEVATE)

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NEW INTERNET DOMAIN REGULATIONS



1. (SBU) Summary: Last year, the GOK issued new regulations
stating that the government would control the registration
of internet domains in Kazakhstan. These rules have been
criticized by internet groups and the OSCE as unduly
politicizing Kazakhstani cyberspace. However, to date the
rules have had little impact on internet freedom of speech
in Kazakhstan. End summary.


2. (U) In the run-up to last year's presidential elections,
the Agency for Information and Communication issued new
rules on how internet domains in Kazakhstan would be
assigned. Issued without public debate or expert technical
analysis, these rules have since been approved by the
National Security Committee and currently apply to all
requests for domains and sub-domains in the country.


3. (U) Under these rules, all applications for internet
domains in Kazakhstan must be reviewed by government
officials. To be registered, applicants must provide
evidence that all of their DNS servers are located in
Kazakhstan. Applications may also be denied for a variety
of technical and procedural reasons, many of them vaguely
defined.


4. (U) After approval, a similar list of reasons can be used
to temporarily suspend registration. A registered domain
can subsequently be cancelled if the issues behind the
suspension are not resolved in short order.


5. (U) Most analysts agree that the rules are aimed against
independent websites. The internet community resents the
new rules, arguing that the government is not authorized to
administer ".kz" domains, and that most of the specific
provisions do not make sense or are unenforceable. This has
led many to question whether the new rules are the result of
shabby legislative work, or if they were intentionally
designed to give the government a freer hand in exerting
control over Kazakhstan's cyberspace.


6. (U) The OSCE has stated that the rules impose
unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech. It warned
that governmental control over domain registration subjects
the process to undue political interference. Additionally,
the OSCE said clearer rules were needed for suspension and
denial to prevent abuse.


7. (SBU) Comment: Despite public concerns, the impact of
the new rules has been limited thus far. The new technical
rules can be circumvented without great effort, and there is
no strong evidence that government officials have made
registration decisions on political grounds. Many informed
observers believe it will be more important to watch the new
draft law on information resources and e-government to be
considered in Parliament this September. The Chairman of
the Agency responsible for drafting the new law has said its
main purpose is to ensure that everyone has equal access to
information. Minister of Culture and Information
Yertysbayev, however, recently promised to impose greater
control over internet access by the end of the year and to
end "the flow of dirty libel and lies aimed against
government officials." End comment.

ORDWAY