10.07.2025 16:01:00
Дата публикации
Kazakhstan is preparing major reforms in the regulation of digital platforms and media services. The Ministry of Culture and Information has published two consultation papers outlining legislative changes, with a draft law planned for 2026.
The reforms aim to increase accountability for online services—social networks, messengers, streaming platforms, and online cinemas—by introducing tools for content control and compliance with national standards.
Current law requires platforms to appoint a representative in Kazakhstan, but this mechanism is seen as insufficient. New proposals call for mandatory registration of platform offices, enabling direct legal engagement and enforcement.
The draft also introduces algorithm transparency: platforms must disclose how recommendation and ranking systems work, boosting user trust and clarity.
Administrative liability is another focus. Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses will address illegal content, language quota violations, and excessive advertising.
International benchmarks include the EU’s Digital Services Act, Germany’s NetzDG, and the UK’s Online Safety Act, which feature audits, fines up to 6% of global turnover, and criminal liability for harmful algorithms.
While mandatory registration may challenge market entry and competition, similar regulations are already in place in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan—with mixed outcomes.
The project also proposes legal recognition for online cinemas and audiovisual platforms, opening new opportunities for investors and content creators.
Additional measures include labeling official government responses in media and tightening rules for mandatory-access TV channels.
Public consultation ends July 10. Documents are available on the Open NPA portal, with participation from government bodies, NGOs, platform owners, and the public.
These reforms aim to balance digital freedom with legal clarity, fostering trust, user protection, and sustainable growth in Kazakhstan’s digital ecosystem.
The reforms aim to increase accountability for online services—social networks, messengers, streaming platforms, and online cinemas—by introducing tools for content control and compliance with national standards.
Current law requires platforms to appoint a representative in Kazakhstan, but this mechanism is seen as insufficient. New proposals call for mandatory registration of platform offices, enabling direct legal engagement and enforcement.
The draft also introduces algorithm transparency: platforms must disclose how recommendation and ranking systems work, boosting user trust and clarity.
Administrative liability is another focus. Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses will address illegal content, language quota violations, and excessive advertising.
International benchmarks include the EU’s Digital Services Act, Germany’s NetzDG, and the UK’s Online Safety Act, which feature audits, fines up to 6% of global turnover, and criminal liability for harmful algorithms.
While mandatory registration may challenge market entry and competition, similar regulations are already in place in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan—with mixed outcomes.
The project also proposes legal recognition for online cinemas and audiovisual platforms, opening new opportunities for investors and content creators.
Additional measures include labeling official government responses in media and tightening rules for mandatory-access TV channels.
Public consultation ends July 10. Documents are available on the Open NPA portal, with participation from government bodies, NGOs, platform owners, and the public.
These reforms aim to balance digital freedom with legal clarity, fostering trust, user protection, and sustainable growth in Kazakhstan’s digital ecosystem.
