«Centralasiaonline»: Kyrgyzstan is developing measures to combat cyber terrorism

Trying to keep up with tech-savvy extremists Kyrgyzstan changing laws, awareness campaigns and requests for international assistance, officials said.

Asker Sultanov

12/20/2012

BISHKEK – Faced with a growing number of extremist websites, Kyrgyz lawmakers are preparing to take action to counter extremism on the Internet.

The terrorist organization, armed with the latest information technologies, radically transform the way their activities, said, “Central Asia Online,” a senior expert of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Bahram Auanaso.

“The possibility of use of the Internet has allowed them to create a highly efficient and flexible network organizational structure, the existence of which is very difficult to detect until the commission of terrorist acts, – he said. – Often they use social networks of regional character, so the importance of cooperation in this field at the regional and global level. “

According Auanasova, at the moment the number of websites promoting “Al-Qaeda” is 5 thousand Besides them, the Internet offers and other information platforms such as forums, chat rooms and blogs.

With the increasing number of Islamist material posted on the Internet, experts are saying about the concept of “electronic jihad,” he said. Terrorist organization “Hizb-ut-Tahrir” is used in different countries, from Europe to Africa, “an interconnected network of sites that are regularly placed a request to the supporters’ efforts to help the jihad” through donations of money. The site has a banking information, including account numbers, which can be translated donations “.

Director of the Public Fund “Civil Initiative on Internet Policy” Tattu Mambetalieva said “Central Asia Online,” that Kyrgyzstan needs help to combat this threat.

“In addition to assistance from the international community, governments need to involve the private sector information technology to address security issues in cyberspace, – she said. – And, of course, the same population. It must call to report suspicious facts to the appropriate authorities. “

Actions of Kyrgyzstan

In the past two years, more than half of the cases revealed the influence of extremism extremist websites, according to official data.

According to the “Central Asia Online,” the chairman of the Committee on Defence and Security Tokon Mamytov Parliament, MPs are now considering the draft law “On combating extremist activity.” This bill would toughen laws against kiberekstremizmom by introducing criminal responsibility not only for the authorship of articles extremist, but also work as a webmaster of the site that hosts the like.

“The bill criminalizes the dissemination of radical ideas in the Internet space in Kyrgyzstan and creation of sites extremist”, – he said. The document was initiated by the Ministry of Interior and the “also gives grounds for complete blocking of sites in Kyrgyzstan and cooperation with law enforcement agencies in other countries.”

The bill has already been approved in 2 readings, now have the last review.

Deputy Interior Minister Baktybek Zhusubaliyev said undertaking traces of extremist material on the Internet will be MIA. Have limited access to 13 web resources because of their extremist, 600 portals to take note and be subject to the examination of the Interior Ministry and the State Committee for Religious Affairs.

The decision on the recognition of extremist material contained on the site, will be taking the court.

If the bill comes into force, an internet cafe will have to filter extremist websites, he said, adding that it also plans to introduce comprehensive measures in schools, universities and other public places.

Informing the public

Deputy Director of the Anti-Terrorist Center of the State Committee of the Kyrgyz National Security (SCNS) Taalai Japarov believes one blocking sites not solve the problem.

“Prevent access of people to websites – is not an option – he said. – In this case we are violating the rights of access to information. “

Instead, Japarov proposes to develop for the public outreach program about the dangers of these sites, how to recognize them and where to go in case of detection.

The fight against cyber-terrorism – is a difficult task, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SMMC) Rahmatullah aji Egemberdiev because “extremist websites generously sponsored. Radicals actively disseminate their ideas on the Internet, a broad mission network. “

“Now the mufti can not spend valuable work to prevent extremism due to lack of … resources “, – he said, referring to the authorities to provide them with access to national television for advocacy.

International involvement

Kyrgyzstan seeks the help of international partners.

“The range of measures to counter terrorism on the Internet need to expand,” – said, “Central Asia Online,” an employee of the Interior Ministry Rustam Tenth Aybashev.

“For two years, our department is fighting against extremism and terrorism on the Internet. However, our staff are still poorly trained, “- he said, speaking about the problems in the fight against terrorism in cyberspace.

Given the challenges, the OSCE is ready to assist Kyrgyzstan in combating kiberekstremizmu, said, “Central Asia Online,” the head of the military-political department of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ross Brown. December 4-5 OSCE held a conference to raise awareness and exchange of information in the fight against terrorism and crime in cyberspace, he said.

“In the future, in partnership with the Anti-Terrorism Division of the Department to combat transnational threats of the OSCE Secretariat, we hope to be able to provide ongoing support to the Kyrgyz authorities in the establishment and improvement of the law in this area, conducting trainings on operational work. The Kyrgyz authorities are open and willing to learn from international experience “, – said Brown.