Kyrgyzstan security service to get expanded surveillance mandate
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Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security is set to receive a broader surveillance mandate, including legalized use of facial recognition technology. The move follows a draft law submitted to parliament on May 20.
The Draft Law
The draft law, submitted to the Jogorku Kenesh on May 20, amends the Law on the State Committee for National Security. It explicitly permits the use of facial recognition systems for identifying individuals and tracking their movements. The committee would also gain access to data from state and municipal information systems without court approval.
Scope of Surveillance
The expanded mandate covers collection and processing of biometric data, including facial images, voice recordings, and other identifiers. The committee can request data from telecom operators, internet companies, and government databases. Critics argue the law lacks clear oversight mechanisms and could enable mass surveillance.
Recent Arrests of Officials
The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) arrested 24 officials, including border guards, tax officers, and transport ministry employees, following a meeting with Kamchybek Tashiev. Tashiev had previously disclosed corruption schemes at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border involving a local council deputy and a Uzbek citizen.
What's Next
The parliament is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks. It remains unclear whether the law will include amendments to require judicial warrants for data access.
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Kyrgyzstan security service to get expanded surveillance mandate
