On October 11, an online event was held to showcase the results of the information campaigns on cybersecurity and digital rights in Kazakhstan, which received financial and technical support as part of the “Kazakhstan Uncensored” project, funded by the European Union.
During the event, representatives of four information campaigns shared the goals, objectives, and target audiences of their campaigns, as well as the results and media products they developed throughout the implementation process.
The first speaker was activist and journalist Mikhail Belyakov, who presented the results of the “Children and the Web” campaign. This campaign aimed to raise awareness among parents of children aged 6-14 about creating a safe online space, through expert advice and guides. Before developing content, the team conducted a survey among parents, and based on the findings, they created useful content for parents and teachers, including:
- Two video podcasts: the first featuring an IT specialist discussing technical aspects such as parental controls, VPNs, passwords, games, apps, and links, and the second with a child psychologist offering advice on how to help children with gadget addiction, the impact of 18+ content on kids, and other helpful tips for parents;
- A storytelling article on CABAR.asia, based on real events, detailing the negative impact the internet can have on children’s lives and how to protect them online;
- An article on Factcheck.kz for parents on how to keep children safe on the internet, available in both Russian and Kazakh;
- Social media posts
The campaign sparked great interest, with some parent-focused communities sharing the materials on their social media pages, and a request was made to organize a training session for teachers.
The second campaign, “Digital Literacy: From Button to Click!” was presented by Tatiana Golubtsova, Vice President of the Association “Psychology-Business-Media.” The campaign aimed to raise awareness about digital security among people aged 50+ in the Pavlodar, Karaganda, and North Kazakhstan regions, to reduce the number of fraud victims and help develop safe online behavior skills related to protecting personal data. The campaign’s products included:
- TikTok masks for the “Teach a Boomer” challenge to engage younger audiences in helping the older generation learn about digital safety. The masks were ranked among the top 10% of all TikTok mask developers;
- Short videos where people shared real stories of cyber fraud and provided tips on how to stay protected;
- A video conference called “Digital Rights Unite Us” aimed at older adults to foster a community around digital rights.
The third presenter, activist and lawyer Evgeny Soloviev, shared the results of the “#DigitalCare” campaign. The campaign aimed to increase awareness of digital safety among rural and urban teachers in the North Kazakhstan region, creating a positive environment for experience-sharing and support within the teacher community, as well as improving readiness to protect personal data online. The campaign produced:
- 15 informative posts with practical, legal, and technical advice on protecting oneself in the realm of digital rights, as well as for those who have fallen victim to scams;
- An interview with a victim of fraud detailing how a family lost much of their property in just a few days and was left stranded with children during the cold season;
- An interview with a specialist from the Police Department.
The campaign began during the flood season when new cyber fraud schemes emerged due to the situation in the region, and it is hoped that it helped many avoid becoming victims.
The fourth and final information campaign, “Digital Voices: Empowering Rural Youth,” focused on raising awareness about digital rights and improving digital skills among rural youth. The presentation was given by Zhanar Ramazanova, head of the journalism department at Karaganda University named after E.A. Buketov, and media trainer Maral Aitmagambetova. The campaign produced 38 media products, including:
- A short video competition for students on the topic of digital rights, aimed at raising awareness among young people about the importance of protecting their rights in the digital space. The competition received 13 creative video submissions (12 in Kazakh and 1 in Russian). All videos were shared on social media to raise awareness among not only the participants but also a broader audience. The winners received gift certificates to a tech store;
- Articles on digital rights in local newspapers and media in both Kazakh and Russian;
- Posts on Facebook and Instagram in Kazakh and Russian;
- Two video podcasts in Kazakh.
All four information campaigns were conducted from June to August 2024 and achieved remarkable results in such a short period. The success is reflected in the feedback and collaboration offers from various communities, publications, and other interested parties.
At the end of the event, independent journalist Azat Ruziyev, a trainer on videomaking and podcasts and co-host of the “More Than Sex” podcast, gave a bonus master class. He shared stories of successful information campaigns, discussed potential risks and how to mitigate them, and explained how to engage the audience effectively.
This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of IWPR and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.