Fifth OSCE-supported Central Asian Forum on Internet development begins in Kazakhstan
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 29 April 2014 – A two-day Central Asian Forum on Internet development, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana for the fifth consecutive year in co-operation with MediaNet International Centre for Journalism and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation began today in Almaty.
The event brings together some 100 participants, including media experts and journalists from Georgia, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan as well as representatives from Kazakhstan’s government, the media, non-governmental and international organizations and diplomatic missions.
Participants will discuss freedom of expression in the virtual space, governmental regulation of online content, development of social media and its potential, business aspects of the Internet, outreach of local media outlets, citizen journalism and Web resources in national languages. They will also focus on the challenges in developing the Internet as one of the main sources of information and exchange views about potential threats to the free flow of online information.
“With enhancing the Internet’s role as a major media and communication platform, attempts are made to increase regulations and exercise control over the dissemination of information through its channels,” said Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “The OSCE firmly believes that the right to seek, receive and impart information is a fundamental human right. Therefore, any mechanisms intended to block, filter or remove content should be used only in exceptional cases that are clearly defined by the law.”
Igor Brattsev, Director of the MediaNet International Centre for Journalism added, “Today the development of the Internet is faced with unprecedented challenges and new opportunities that need a better understanding. We hope that the fifth anniversary of the Central Asian Internet Forum will not only help assess the modern status of the global network but also offer insights on the new development trends and possible solutions.”
As a result of the discussions, participants will formulate a set of recommendations to be disseminated among government agencies, other stakeholders in Central Asia and the Internet community at large.
The forum is part of the Centre’s work in promoting freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Kazakhstan and the wider region.