Kazakhstan blocks 1,200 Telegram channels for extremism, fraud
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Kazakhstan's General Prosecutor's Office blocked 1,200 Telegram channels and groups for promoting extremism, terrorism, and fraud. The action follows a surge in illegal content on the platform, including calls for violence and financial scams.
The Blockade
The General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan blocked 1,200 Telegram channels and groups, citing violations of laws on extremism, terrorism, and fraud. The blocked resources included channels promoting religious extremism, calls for mass unrest, and fake investment schemes. The action was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and the National Security Committee.
Platform Response
Telegram has not yet commented on the mass blocking. The platform has faced similar actions in other countries, including Russia and Iran, where authorities have demanded removal of content. Kazakhstan's internet regulator stated that the blocked channels had a combined audience of over 2 million users.
Legal Basis
The blocking was conducted under Article 10 of the Law on Countering Extremism and Article 35 of the Law on Communications. The Prosecutor's Office noted that the channels were identified through monitoring by the Committee for Religious Affairs and the Financial Monitoring Agency. Repeat offenders face fines of up to 1,000 monthly calculation indices (about 3.7 million tenge).
What's Next
The Prosecutor's Office plans to continue monitoring Telegram for illegal content. It remains unclear whether Telegram will challenge the blockings or introduce new moderation measures in Kazakhstan.
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Kazakhstan blocks 1,200 Telegram channels for extremism, fraud
