Google is concerned about Kazakhstan’s decision to “build borders on the Internet”

The Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan by its order approved the Rules of registration, use and distribution of the domain space of the Kazakhstan segment of the Internet . Here are two quotes from this document.

2.4 For the registration of a domain name, the registrant shall submit an application with accurate and complete information in electronic or written form in accordance with the annex to this Regulation. The requirement for server hardware is its physical location in the Republic of Kazakhstan. All registrant applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received by the registry or registrar.

2.9.3. Domain name registration is suspended by the registry or the registrar when finding server equipment that uses an Internet resource with a registered domain name outside the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Google responded to the decision of the Kazakh authorities: now instead of www.google.kz, users from Kazakhstan are served by www.google.com (redirected to the Google page in the Kazakh language).

“We are in a difficult situation: an attempt to build borders on the Internet poses a number of important questions for us, concerning not only the efficiency of processing requests, but also the protection of personal data and freedom of speech. If we were forced to process search queries on www.google.kz only on local servers located on the territory of Kazakhstan, we would contribute to the fragmentation of the Internet, the official blog Google Russia says. - Therefore, we made a decision to redirect google.kz visitors to the www.google.com page in the Kazakh language. Unfortunately, this will lead to some reduction in the quality of search for Kazakhstani users, since the results will no longer be processed in accordance with local specifics.
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Such measures, which force Internet companies to make difficult choices between hindering the development of free Internet and reducing the quality of services, cause damage to users. We urge governments and other interested parties to work together to develop a free Internet that will benefit users, contribute to the development of local economies and innovations around the world. ”