How the installation of national security certificate in Kazakhstan brought new social media discussions on cyberspace regulations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26577/HJ.2021.v61.i3.01Abstract
In 2019, the Kazakhstani government attempted to embed the installation of a national security certificate within the country. The introduction of such a certificate was explained by the need to strengthen the cyber protection of citizens, state bodies, private companies from activities of Internet fraudsters and other types of cyber threats. However, citizens alongside local and international experts did not entirely welcome and accept this decision by voicing their dissent towards it. Criticism towards the installment of national security certificate ranged from infringements concerning personal data rights of citizens and companies towards an act of state apparatus espionage on sensitive private information. The thematic focus of the paper concerns the problem of mass communication and realm of media rights. Structurally, the paper first describes how the national security certificate was introduced and has originated in Kazakhstan. Then the paper analysis the various reasons and arguments in favor or against the introduction of a national security certificate. Here, viewpoints from different stakeholders were considered, such as by state ministries, Kcell and Activ mobile operators, ordinary citizens or local experts like Dossym Satpayev. Lastly, a thorough analysis of present and future outlooks on the development of national security certificate in Kazakhstan is discussed. A discourse analysis approach is applied as a research method with secondary sources of information used. The goal of this concise but informative article is to highlight both the development and the inter-relationship between the society and state what concerns national policies within the cyber realm. The significance of this paper is that it should help scholars in identifying new domestic issues studying in the field of journalism or public policy. In conclusion, the results and discussions of this paper showed us the practical and theoretical importance of how a national policy and its security certificate project generated both public dissatisfaction and new social movements concerning cyberspace aspects, but also a new testing ground for pilot projects in testing people’s readiness for accepting new cyberspace regulations.
Keywords: national security certificate; Kazakhstan; Internet blocking; mobile operators; human rights.
References
- Aben, D. & . Makhanov, K. (2019). Ensuring Cybersecurity in Kazakhstan: Problems and Solutions. Eurasian Research Institute. URL: https://eurasian-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Weekly-e-bulletin-22-04-2019-28-04-2019-No-208.pdf
- De Haas, M. (2015). Kazakhstan’s security policy: steady as she goes?. The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 28(4), 621-645.
- Gussarova, A. (2020). Kazakhstan Adapting to the Cyber Space. Marshall Center Organization. URL: https://www.marshallcenter.org/sites/default/files/files/2020-09/pC_V7N2_en-2_Gussarova.pdf
- Shahbaz, A. & Funk, A. (2019). Freedom on the Net. The Crisis of Social Media. / Freedom House Organization. - November 04, 2019. - URL: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/11042019_Report_FH_FOTN_2019_final_Public_Download.pdf
- Symbat, I. & Yesseniyazova, B.M. (2019). Cyber Security Issues in Digital Kazakhstan. NISPA Organization. URL: https://www.nispa.org/files/conferences/2019/e-proceedings/system_files/papers/cyber-security-issues-issabaeva.pdf
Электронные ресурсы:
Bne IntelliNews. (2019). Google, Mozilla and Apple block Kazakhstan “trust” certificate that spies on citizens’ internet use. (2019, August 23). URL: https://www.intellinews.com/google-mozilla-and-apple-block-kazakhstan-trust-certificate-that-spies-on-citizens-internet-use-166588/
Байтукенов Т. (2018). Бес комментариев. (2018, февраль 21). Режим доступа: https://time.kz/articles/tulegennaya-inzheneriya/2018/02/21/bes-kommentariev
Гиперборей (2019). Досым Сатпаев про митинги, Аблязова и транзит власти. (2019, aвгуст 29). Режим доступа: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaom9QJUp8
Ким С. (2019). Президент Токаев: тестирование сертификата безопасности проводилось по моему поручению. (2019, aвгуст 07). Режим доступа: https://factcheck.kz/dajdzhest/prezident-tokaev-testirovanie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti-provodilos-po-moemu-porucheniyu/
Курсив. (2019b). Жители Нур-Султана негативно восприняли сообщение от сотовых операторов. (2019, июль 19). Режим доступа: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/zhiteli-nur-sultana-negativno-vosprinyali-soobschenie-ot-sotovykh
Курсив. (2019а). Эксперт прокомментировал внедрение сертификата безопасности. (2019, июль 19). Режим доступа: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/ekspert-prokommentiroval-vnedrenie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti
Радио Азаттык. (2019). Токаев заявил, что сертификат Qaznet вводил КНБ по его поручению. (2019, август 07). Режим доступа: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/30096331.html
Рамазанов О. (2019). На Tele2, Beeline и Kcell подали в суд из-за сертификата безопасности. (2019, август 06). Режим доступа: https://tengrinews.kz/internet/tele2-beeline-kcell-podali-sud-iz-za-sertifikata-375763/
24 Хабар. Зачем нужен сертификат безопасности, рассказал Аскар Жумагалиев. (2019, июль 23). Режим доступа: https://24.kz/ru/news/social/item/329888-zachem-nuzhen-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-rasskazal-askar-zhumagaliev
CABAR (2019). Kazakhstan: Google and Mozilla will block national security certificate. (2019, August 22). URL: https://cabar.asia/en/kazakhstan-google-and-mozilla-will-block-national-security-certificate
Freedom House Organization (2019). Social media are a growing conduit for electoral manipulation and mass surveillance. (2019, November 04). URL: https://freedomhouse.org/article/social-media-are-growing-conduit-electoral-manipulation-and-mass-surveillance
Netblocks Organization. (n.d.). Netblocks Organization, Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST). URL: https://netblocks.org/cost/
Netblocks Organization (2019). Social media blocked in Kazakhstan on Victory Day. (2019, May 09). URL: https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-blocked-in-kazakhstan-on-victory-day-eBOg47BZ
Plakhina, Y. (2019). Kazakhstan pauses interception of encrypted traffic, but for how long? (2019, August 30). - URL: https://advox.globalvoices.org/2019/08/30/kazakhstan-pauses-interception-of-encrypted-traffic-but-for-how-long/
Woollacott, E. (2019). Rising levels of cybercrime renews focus on cybersecurity in Central Asia. (2019, September 17). URL: https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/rising-levels-of-cybercrime-renews-focus-on-cybersecurity-in-central-asia
- Шамсутдинов Э. (2019). Национальный сертификат безопасности как очередная "попытка контролировать интернет". Что не так? (2019, июль 23). Режим доступа: https://informburo.kz/stati/nacionalnyy-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-kak-ocherednaya-popytka-kontrolirovat-internet-chto-ne-tak-.html
References
- Aben, D. & . Makhanov, K. (2019). Ensuring Cybersecurity in Kazakhstan: Problems and Solutions. Eurasian Research Institute. URL: https://eurasian-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Weekly-e-bulletin-22-04-2019-28-04-2019-No-208.pdf
- De Haas, M. (2015). Kazakhstan’s security policy: steady as she goes?. The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 28(4), 621-645.
- Gussarova, A. (2020). Kazakhstan Adapting to the Cyber Space. Marshall Center Organization. URL: https://www.marshallcenter.org/sites/default/files/files/2020-09/pC_V7N2_en-2_Gussarova.pdf
- Shahbaz, A. & Funk, A. (2019). Freedom on the Net. The Crisis of Social Media. / Freedom House Organization. - November 04, 2019. - URL: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/11042019_Report_FH_FOTN_2019_final_Public_Download.pdf
- Symbat, I. & Yesseniyazova, B.M. (2019). Cyber Security Issues in Digital Kazakhstan. NISPA Organization. URL: https://www.nispa.org/files/conferences/2019/e-proceedings/system_files/papers/cyber-security-issues-issabaeva.pdf
Electronic resources
- Bne IntelliNews. (2019). Google, Mozilla and Apple block Kazakhstan “trust” certificate that spies on citizens’ internet use. (2019, August 23). URL: https://www.intellinews.com/google-mozilla-and-apple-block-kazakhstan-trust-certificate-that-spies-on-citizens-internet-use-166588/
- Baytukenov, T. (2018). Bes kommentariyev. [No comments.]. (2018, February 21). URL: https://time.kz/articles/tulegennaya-inzheneriya/2018/02/21/bes-kommentariev
- Giperborey. (2019). Dossym Satpayev pro mitingi, Ablyazova i tranzit vlasti - GIPERBOREY. Vypusk #1. [Dosym Satpayev is talking about meetings, Ablyazov, and power transit – Giperborey. Issue #1]. (2019, August 29). URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaom9QJUp8
- Kim, S. (2019). Prezident Tokayev: testirovaniye sertifikata bezopasnosti provodilos' po moyemu porucheniyu. [President Tokayev: testing of the safety certificate was carried out on my behalf.] (2019, August 07). URL: https://factcheck.kz/dajdzhest/prezident-tokaev-testirovanie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti-provodilos-po-moemu-porucheniyu/
- Kursiv.kz. (2019b). Zhiteli Nur-Sultana negativno vosprinyali soobshcheniye ot sotovykh operatorov. [Residents of Nur-Sultan negatively perceived the message from mobile operators.] (2019, July 19). URL: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/zhiteli-nur-sultana-negativno-vosprinyali-soobschenie-ot-sotovykh
- Kursiv.kz. (2019a). Ekspert prokommentiroval vnedreniye sertifikata bezopasnosti. [The expert commented on the implementation of the security certificate.] (2019, July 19). URL: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/ekspert-prokommentiroval-vnedrenie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti
- Radio Azattyq. (2019). Tokayev zayavil, chto sertifikat Qaznet vvodil KNB po yego porucheniyu. [Tokayev said that the Qaznet certificate was introduced by the KNB on his behalf.] (2019, August 07). URL: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/30096331.html
- Ramazanov, O. (2019). Na Tele2, Beeline i Kcell podali v sud iz-za sertifikata bezopasnosti. [Tele2, Beeline and Kcell sued over security certificate.] (2019, August 06). URL: https://tengrinews.kz/internet/tele2-beeline-kcell-podali-sud-iz-za-sertifikata-375763/
- 24kz. (2019). Zachem nuzhen sertifikat bezopasnosti, rasskazal Askar Zhumagaliyev. [Askar Zhumagaliyev talked about the necessity of the security certificate.] Khabar 24 News, 23 July 2019. URL: https://24.kz/ru/news/social/item/329888-zachem-nuzhen-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-rasskazal-askar-zhumagaliev
- CABAR (2019). Kazakhstan: Google and Mozilla will block national security certificate. (2019, August 22). URL: https://cabar.asia/en/kazakhstan-google-and-mozilla-will-block-national-security-certificate
- Freedom House. (2019). Social media are a growing conduit for electoral manipulation and mass surveillance. (2019, November 04). URL: https://freedomhouse.org/article/social-media-are-growing-conduit-electoral-manipulation-and-mass-surveillance
- Netblocks. (n.d.). Netblocks Organization, Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST). URL: https://netblocks.org/cost/
- Netblocks. (2019). Social media blocked in Kazakhstan on Victory Day. (2019, May 09). URL: https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-blocked-in-kazakhstan-on-victory-day-eBOg47BZ
- Plakhina, Y. (2019). Kazakhstan pauses interception of encrypted traffic, but for how long? (2019, August 30) URL: https://advox.globalvoices.org/2019/08/30/kazakhstan-pauses-interception-of-encrypted-traffic-but-for-how-long/
- Woollacott, E. (2019). Rising levels of cybercrime renews focus on cybersecurity in Central Asia. (2019, September 17). URL: https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/rising-levels-of-cybercrime-renews-focus-on-cybersecurity-in-central-asi
- Shamsutdinov, E. (2019). Nacional'nyj sertifikat bezopasnosti kak ocherednaja "popytka kontrolirovat' internet". Chto ne tak? [National security certificate as another "attempt to control the Internet." What's wrong?] (2019, July 23). URL: https://informburo.kz/stati/nacionalnyy-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-kak-ocherednaya-popytka-kontrolirovat-internet-chto-ne-tak-.html
- De Haas, M. (2015). Kazakhstan’s security policy: steady as she goes?. The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 28(4), 621-645.
- Gussarova, A. (2020). Kazakhstan Adapting to the Cyber Space. Marshall Center Organization. URL: https://www.marshallcenter.org/sites/default/files/files/2020-09/pC_V7N2_en-2_Gussarova.pdf
- Shahbaz, A. & Funk, A. (2019). Freedom on the Net. The Crisis of Social Media. / Freedom House Organization. - November 04, 2019. - URL: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/11042019_Report_FH_FOTN_2019_final_Public_Download.pdf
- Symbat, I. & Yesseniyazova, B.M. (2019). Cyber Security Issues in Digital Kazakhstan. NISPA Organization. URL: https://www.nispa.org/files/conferences/2019/e-proceedings/system_files/papers/cyber-security-issues-issabaeva.pdf
Электронные ресурсы:
Bne IntelliNews. (2019). Google, Mozilla and Apple block Kazakhstan “trust” certificate that spies on citizens’ internet use. (2019, August 23). URL: https://www.intellinews.com/google-mozilla-and-apple-block-kazakhstan-trust-certificate-that-spies-on-citizens-internet-use-166588/
Байтукенов Т. (2018). Бес комментариев. (2018, февраль 21). Режим доступа: https://time.kz/articles/tulegennaya-inzheneriya/2018/02/21/bes-kommentariev
Гиперборей (2019). Досым Сатпаев про митинги, Аблязова и транзит власти. (2019, aвгуст 29). Режим доступа: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaom9QJUp8
Ким С. (2019). Президент Токаев: тестирование сертификата безопасности проводилось по моему поручению. (2019, aвгуст 07). Режим доступа: https://factcheck.kz/dajdzhest/prezident-tokaev-testirovanie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti-provodilos-po-moemu-porucheniyu/
Курсив. (2019b). Жители Нур-Султана негативно восприняли сообщение от сотовых операторов. (2019, июль 19). Режим доступа: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/zhiteli-nur-sultana-negativno-vosprinyali-soobschenie-ot-sotovykh
Курсив. (2019а). Эксперт прокомментировал внедрение сертификата безопасности. (2019, июль 19). Режим доступа: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/ekspert-prokommentiroval-vnedrenie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti
Радио Азаттык. (2019). Токаев заявил, что сертификат Qaznet вводил КНБ по его поручению. (2019, август 07). Режим доступа: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/30096331.html
Рамазанов О. (2019). На Tele2, Beeline и Kcell подали в суд из-за сертификата безопасности. (2019, август 06). Режим доступа: https://tengrinews.kz/internet/tele2-beeline-kcell-podali-sud-iz-za-sertifikata-375763/
24 Хабар. Зачем нужен сертификат безопасности, рассказал Аскар Жумагалиев. (2019, июль 23). Режим доступа: https://24.kz/ru/news/social/item/329888-zachem-nuzhen-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-rasskazal-askar-zhumagaliev
CABAR (2019). Kazakhstan: Google and Mozilla will block national security certificate. (2019, August 22). URL: https://cabar.asia/en/kazakhstan-google-and-mozilla-will-block-national-security-certificate
Freedom House Organization (2019). Social media are a growing conduit for electoral manipulation and mass surveillance. (2019, November 04). URL: https://freedomhouse.org/article/social-media-are-growing-conduit-electoral-manipulation-and-mass-surveillance
Netblocks Organization. (n.d.). Netblocks Organization, Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST). URL: https://netblocks.org/cost/
Netblocks Organization (2019). Social media blocked in Kazakhstan on Victory Day. (2019, May 09). URL: https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-blocked-in-kazakhstan-on-victory-day-eBOg47BZ
Plakhina, Y. (2019). Kazakhstan pauses interception of encrypted traffic, but for how long? (2019, August 30). - URL: https://advox.globalvoices.org/2019/08/30/kazakhstan-pauses-interception-of-encrypted-traffic-but-for-how-long/
Woollacott, E. (2019). Rising levels of cybercrime renews focus on cybersecurity in Central Asia. (2019, September 17). URL: https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/rising-levels-of-cybercrime-renews-focus-on-cybersecurity-in-central-asia
- Шамсутдинов Э. (2019). Национальный сертификат безопасности как очередная "попытка контролировать интернет". Что не так? (2019, июль 23). Режим доступа: https://informburo.kz/stati/nacionalnyy-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-kak-ocherednaya-popytka-kontrolirovat-internet-chto-ne-tak-.html
References
- Aben, D. & . Makhanov, K. (2019). Ensuring Cybersecurity in Kazakhstan: Problems and Solutions. Eurasian Research Institute. URL: https://eurasian-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Weekly-e-bulletin-22-04-2019-28-04-2019-No-208.pdf
- De Haas, M. (2015). Kazakhstan’s security policy: steady as she goes?. The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 28(4), 621-645.
- Gussarova, A. (2020). Kazakhstan Adapting to the Cyber Space. Marshall Center Organization. URL: https://www.marshallcenter.org/sites/default/files/files/2020-09/pC_V7N2_en-2_Gussarova.pdf
- Shahbaz, A. & Funk, A. (2019). Freedom on the Net. The Crisis of Social Media. / Freedom House Organization. - November 04, 2019. - URL: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/11042019_Report_FH_FOTN_2019_final_Public_Download.pdf
- Symbat, I. & Yesseniyazova, B.M. (2019). Cyber Security Issues in Digital Kazakhstan. NISPA Organization. URL: https://www.nispa.org/files/conferences/2019/e-proceedings/system_files/papers/cyber-security-issues-issabaeva.pdf
Electronic resources
- Bne IntelliNews. (2019). Google, Mozilla and Apple block Kazakhstan “trust” certificate that spies on citizens’ internet use. (2019, August 23). URL: https://www.intellinews.com/google-mozilla-and-apple-block-kazakhstan-trust-certificate-that-spies-on-citizens-internet-use-166588/
- Baytukenov, T. (2018). Bes kommentariyev. [No comments.]. (2018, February 21). URL: https://time.kz/articles/tulegennaya-inzheneriya/2018/02/21/bes-kommentariev
- Giperborey. (2019). Dossym Satpayev pro mitingi, Ablyazova i tranzit vlasti - GIPERBOREY. Vypusk #1. [Dosym Satpayev is talking about meetings, Ablyazov, and power transit – Giperborey. Issue #1]. (2019, August 29). URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaom9QJUp8
- Kim, S. (2019). Prezident Tokayev: testirovaniye sertifikata bezopasnosti provodilos' po moyemu porucheniyu. [President Tokayev: testing of the safety certificate was carried out on my behalf.] (2019, August 07). URL: https://factcheck.kz/dajdzhest/prezident-tokaev-testirovanie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti-provodilos-po-moemu-porucheniyu/
- Kursiv.kz. (2019b). Zhiteli Nur-Sultana negativno vosprinyali soobshcheniye ot sotovykh operatorov. [Residents of Nur-Sultan negatively perceived the message from mobile operators.] (2019, July 19). URL: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/zhiteli-nur-sultana-negativno-vosprinyali-soobschenie-ot-sotovykh
- Kursiv.kz. (2019a). Ekspert prokommentiroval vnedreniye sertifikata bezopasnosti. [The expert commented on the implementation of the security certificate.] (2019, July 19). URL: https://kursiv.kz/news/obschestvo/2019-07/ekspert-prokommentiroval-vnedrenie-sertifikata-bezopasnosti
- Radio Azattyq. (2019). Tokayev zayavil, chto sertifikat Qaznet vvodil KNB po yego porucheniyu. [Tokayev said that the Qaznet certificate was introduced by the KNB on his behalf.] (2019, August 07). URL: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/30096331.html
- Ramazanov, O. (2019). Na Tele2, Beeline i Kcell podali v sud iz-za sertifikata bezopasnosti. [Tele2, Beeline and Kcell sued over security certificate.] (2019, August 06). URL: https://tengrinews.kz/internet/tele2-beeline-kcell-podali-sud-iz-za-sertifikata-375763/
- 24kz. (2019). Zachem nuzhen sertifikat bezopasnosti, rasskazal Askar Zhumagaliyev. [Askar Zhumagaliyev talked about the necessity of the security certificate.] Khabar 24 News, 23 July 2019. URL: https://24.kz/ru/news/social/item/329888-zachem-nuzhen-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-rasskazal-askar-zhumagaliev
- CABAR (2019). Kazakhstan: Google and Mozilla will block national security certificate. (2019, August 22). URL: https://cabar.asia/en/kazakhstan-google-and-mozilla-will-block-national-security-certificate
- Freedom House. (2019). Social media are a growing conduit for electoral manipulation and mass surveillance. (2019, November 04). URL: https://freedomhouse.org/article/social-media-are-growing-conduit-electoral-manipulation-and-mass-surveillance
- Netblocks. (n.d.). Netblocks Organization, Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST). URL: https://netblocks.org/cost/
- Netblocks. (2019). Social media blocked in Kazakhstan on Victory Day. (2019, May 09). URL: https://netblocks.org/reports/social-media-blocked-in-kazakhstan-on-victory-day-eBOg47BZ
- Plakhina, Y. (2019). Kazakhstan pauses interception of encrypted traffic, but for how long? (2019, August 30) URL: https://advox.globalvoices.org/2019/08/30/kazakhstan-pauses-interception-of-encrypted-traffic-but-for-how-long/
- Woollacott, E. (2019). Rising levels of cybercrime renews focus on cybersecurity in Central Asia. (2019, September 17). URL: https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/rising-levels-of-cybercrime-renews-focus-on-cybersecurity-in-central-asi
- Shamsutdinov, E. (2019). Nacional'nyj sertifikat bezopasnosti kak ocherednaja "popytka kontrolirovat' internet". Chto ne tak? [National security certificate as another "attempt to control the Internet." What's wrong?] (2019, July 23). URL: https://informburo.kz/stati/nacionalnyy-sertifikat-bezopasnosti-kak-ocherednaya-popytka-kontrolirovat-internet-chto-ne-tak-.html
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Kumar, Y. A., Baktybayev, B. S., & Vaigorova, L. R. (2021). How the installation of national security certificate in Kazakhstan brought new social media discussions on cyberspace regulations. Herald of Journalism, 61(3). https://doi.org/10.26577/HJ.2021.v61.i3.01
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Journalism: Society. Language. History. Policy. Law. Economy.
