31.10.2025 16:00:00
Дата публикации
Today in Almaty, the 16th Central Asian Forum “InternetCA 2025” is underway, focusing on internet development across the region.
Key topics include: internet regulation and access, freedom of expression in the digital age, and countering propaganda and disinformation.
The first panel — “Regulating and Securing Free Internet” — featured Elzhan Kabyshev, head of legal practice at the Eurasian Digital Foundation and lead lawyer of the shutdown.kz campaign. He emphasized that Kazakhstan’s January 2022 internet shutdown lacked legal basis and violated proportionality principles.
Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel at Access Now, supported this view, noting that shutdowns harm not only citizens but also businesses and governments.
Kabyshev also shared news of a constitutional complaint filed in Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court, arguing that the 2022 shutdown breached key principles of the country’s basic law.
Madina Tursunova, IP lawyer and digital rights expert from Uzbekistan, spoke about the current digital landscape and related cases in her practice.
Government representatives — Nurbol Mukashev (Kazakhstan) and Tilek Ishenov (Kyrgyzstan) — also contributed to the discussion.
Thanks to MediaNet for organizing InternetCA 2025 and providing a vital platform to advance digital rights across Central Asia.
Follow the shutdown campaign at shutdown.kz and on Eurasian Digital Foundation’s social media.
Key topics include: internet regulation and access, freedom of expression in the digital age, and countering propaganda and disinformation.
The first panel — “Regulating and Securing Free Internet” — featured Elzhan Kabyshev, head of legal practice at the Eurasian Digital Foundation and lead lawyer of the shutdown.kz campaign. He emphasized that Kazakhstan’s January 2022 internet shutdown lacked legal basis and violated proportionality principles.
Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel at Access Now, supported this view, noting that shutdowns harm not only citizens but also businesses and governments.
Kabyshev also shared news of a constitutional complaint filed in Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court, arguing that the 2022 shutdown breached key principles of the country’s basic law.
Madina Tursunova, IP lawyer and digital rights expert from Uzbekistan, spoke about the current digital landscape and related cases in her practice.
Government representatives — Nurbol Mukashev (Kazakhstan) and Tilek Ishenov (Kyrgyzstan) — also contributed to the discussion.
Thanks to MediaNet for organizing InternetCA 2025 and providing a vital platform to advance digital rights across Central Asia.
Follow the shutdown campaign at shutdown.kz and on Eurasian Digital Foundation’s social media.
