Expert Questions Need for Foreign Agent Law in Kazakhstan

USAID spending in Kazakhstan has sparked calls for foreign agent legislation, but political analyst Gaziz Abishev suggests such measures may be unnecessary, Orda.kz reports.

Abishev notes that while the People's Party of Kazakhstan has been vocal about USAID scrutiny and foreign grant recipients, the situation is more nuanced than deputies portray.

Indeed, the authorities already monitor those receiving foreign financing.

Kazakhstan learned the lessons of Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan in its time and properly tightened up the control mechanisms. In this matter, the state is definitely in the necessary tone. There are professionals with a cool head who cannot be caught off guard. In a sense, there is a law on foreign agents, it is just scattered among many other existing laws. Those who need to know everything about everyone,  says Gaziz Abishev.

The analyst warns that implementing a dedicated foreign agent law could compromise Kazakhstan's diplomatic flexibility and multi-vector foreign policy.

He also questions the singular focus on Western influence while overlooking other foreign actors.

In an effort to reduce the influence of Western liberal propaganda, we must not forget about internal traditionalist, external religious, Russian and other passionate propaganda. Perhaps, for balance, we need the entire spectrum of current values, rather than an artificial, partially sterilized set. Of course, if there is a willingness to cold-bloodedly hang the universal label 'foreign agent' not only on partners of Western foundations but also on recipients of grants from Russian, Arab and other sources, that is another question. But is there such willingness?

Abishev emphasizes that modern influence operations have shifted to digital platforms, where Kazakhstan faces significant vulnerabilities.

The progress of digital technologies has provided almost all Kazakhstanis with mobile devices and free access to the World Wide Web. Over the past years, we have all already given American corporations our geolocations, fingerprints, face vectors, realistic images of most populated areas (in pursuit of Pokemon). Our phones with American operating systems do not hesitate to eavesdrop on us, throwing up the necessary advertising at the slightest provocation.

Abishev also spoke about AI:

AI will be able to analyze big data collected from smartphones and social networks and build a picture of society in the right context. And based on this picture, formulate trigger content. Which, in the absence of language and cultural barriers, will find its mass consumer. And what is the small share of politicized USAID grants in comparison?

According to the expert, trying to urgently close all channels of foreign influence is futile.

Kazakhstan needs to have its own competitive agenda that will be in demand and popular.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny