Kazakhstan Proposes Fines for Not Meeting Kazakh-Language Broadcast Quota

Although the requirement for television and radio broadcasters to ensure that at least 55% of their weekly airtime is in the Kazakh language has been in effect since January 1, 2025, there is currently no formal penalty for noncompliance, Orda.kz reports.

The Ministry of Culture and Information is now proposing to introduce administrative liability for violations of this language quota. The measure is part of a draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Offences, which is open for public discussion until July 10.

The proposed changes would also introduce penalties for exceeding the legal limit on advertising, which currently may not surpass 20% of total daily broadcast time.

The Ministry is also seeking to regulate the distribution of illegal content on digital platforms such as social media and video hosting sites. Officials argue that current legislation does not adequately address challenges in the online space.

The document references international practices in countries like the EU, the UK, and South Korea, where violations of language and advertising regulations can lead to significant fines or even the blocking of online services.

The proposed changes aim to raise accountability among media outlets and digital platforms, while supporting the promotion of the state language.

The government has adopted a language policy framework through 2030. Among its goals are increasing the share of Kazakh-language content on state-run broadcasters to 85% by 2029 and raising the nationwide Kazakh language proficiency rate to 84%.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov