Kazakhstan Government Uses Internet Blackouts to Suppress Protests and Obscure Violence
Authorities in Kazakhstan deliberately shut down internet access to silence widespread protests and conceal state violence. Digital rights groups demand the immediate restoration of full connectivity as citizens remain cut off from the world.
Authorities in Kazakhstan systematically shut down internet access across the country to suppress widespread protests and hide state violence. What begins as localized outages on January 2 in the city of Zhanaozen quickly escalates into a nationwide digital blackout as demonstrations spread and citizens demand political and socioeconomic reforms.
By January 4, major internet service providers intentionally block mobile services and throttle traffic, leaving the vast majority of the population completely disconnected. International monitoring organizations like Cloudflare and Global Check document severe drops in connectivity, confirming a coordinated effort by the government to sever communication lines.
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemn these deliberate network disruptions, which fracture the international community's ability to communicate with people on the ground. The coalition calls on Kazakh authorities and telecommunication companies to immediately restore permanent, full access to the internet so citizens can safely connect and share information.