A member of Kazakhstan’s lower house of Parliament has warned about the uncontrolled circulation of surveillance devices and tracking systems in the country, arguing that some modern technologies pose growing risks to personal privacy.
In a parliamentary inquiry submitted earlier this year to Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s minister of AI and digital development, MP Abutalip Mutali said modern technologies threaten the privacy of Kazakhstanis.
Concerns over connected vehicles
According to Mutali, many new Chinese-made vehicles effectively function as data collection tools. He said such vehicles rely on foreign servers and user accounts, allowing foreign companies to collect information about drivers’ routes and activities.
The lawmaker also cited cases in which vehicle functions were reportedly restricted or disabled remotely. He argued that servers processing data from vehicle owners should be located in Kazakhstan.
Surveillance devices sold without regulation
Mutali said the risks extend beyond connected vehicles, noting that surveillance gadgets manufactured in China can be purchased online without licensing.
Among the devices he identified as potentially dangerous were:
- GPS trackers and GSM beacons.
- Hidden cameras disguised as pens and household items.
- Voice recorders and eyeglasses equipped with concealed recording devices.
Call for tighter regulation
Mutali noted that Article 399 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code prohibits the illegal circulation of certain special technical devices intended for covert information gathering. However, he argued that enforcement remains inadequate and that the market is largely unregulated.
According to the lawmaker, such devices can be used for covert surveillance, blackmail and corporate espionage.
He called on the government to introduce mandatory certification and licensing for surveillance equipment, require the localization of servers storing data from modern vehicle owners, and develop a framework to regulate the circulation of specialized devices in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
