Kazakhstan: Personal Data Leak of Millions, Including Officials, Discovered
Photo: Elements.envato.com, ill. purposes
A Telegram bot has surfaced that gives anyone free access to the personal data of Kazakhstani citizens, including government officials. Among those whose information has leaked online are Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev and Kazakhtelecom head Bagdat Musin, Orda.kz reports.
The leak was revealed by Majilis Deputy Murat Abenov, who raised the alarm on Facebook. Abenov warned that “uncontrolled digitalization is more a threat than a blessing,” noting that Madiyev has been a vocal supporter of Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
The bot gives out the personal details of every Kazakhstani citizen, free of charge, to anyone. The project is most likely operated from Russia, since it is more about Russian citizens. All data from state information systems is publicly available, most likely a downloaded eGov database,Abenov wrote.
According to Abenov, the bot updates its data in real time, offering access to birth dates, national ID numbers (IIN), addresses, phone numbers, household members, real estate purchases, and vehicle ownership.
To test it, we entered the names of the current Minister, Zhaslan Madiyev, and former Minister of digitalization, Bagdat Musin. The bot returned full details, including mobile numbers registered in eGov and information about their family members,Abenov reported.
The deputy said the leaked data appears authentic, complete with current phone numbers, home addresses, and even children’s contacts. The most recent data update was in December 2024. As for how the breach happened, Abenov suspects the involvement of corrupt insiders at the Ministry of Digital Development, potentially selling data for profit.
Abenov has formally appealed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General’s Office, urging swift action and a full investigation.
Orda.kz has also submitted a request for comment to the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry.
This is not Kazakhstan’s first data breach scandal. Just last month, news broke that a list of Almaty residents living with HIV had been leaked online.
Original Author: Nikita Drobny
Latest news
- Mother Questions Official Account of National Guard Conscript’s Death in Oral
- KazTransOil to Boost Oil Supplies to Kyrgyzstan, Resume Transit to Uzbekistan
- Russian Teen Who Fled to Kazakhstan to Escape War Faces Deportation
- Lawyer Comments on Gulnara Bazhkenova's House Arrest Conditions, Appeals to International Organizations
- Kazakhstan Marks Independence Day, Remembering the Tragic December Events of 1986
- Kremlin Spokesperson Says Ukraine’s Non-NATO Status Is Central to Peace Talks
- Kcell Receives Certification for Information Security
- Uzbekistan Aims to Halt Gas Production Decline by 2026 With New Fields
- Kyrgyzstan: Culture Ministry Denies Reports of Ban on Valery Meladze Concert
- Kazakh Ophthalmologist Wins International Honors at Hong Kong ICT Awards 2025
- Kazakhstan: Construction Industry Urges for Return to Previous Time Zone
- KTZ Spends 79 Million Tenge on New Workwear After Complaints From Mangystau Employees
- Armenian Defense Minister Says Situation Calm Along Border With Azerbaijan
- Zelenskyy Signals Ukraine Could Forego NATO Membership in Exchange for Security Guarantees
- Kazakhstan Says Damage From Drone Attack on CPC Facility Still Being Assessed
- Kazakhstan May Build Planned Thermal Power Plants Independently Amid Delays in Russian Financing
- Expert Warns Sale of Transtelecom Stake Overlooks Kazakhstan’s National Security Risks
- Kazakhstan Says Alternative Oil Export Routes Are Available Amid CPC Infrastructure Issues
- Former Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov Appointed Head of Domestic Policy Department
- Kadyrov Says He Is Ready to Run Again as Chechnya’s Head in 2026