In Kazakhstan, government
eyes are always watching

Though most of the world is enjoying a new, outspoken era, courtesy of the web, some two dozen countries are imposing sharp new censorship laws that impede upon everyday use of the Internet.

According to The Globe and Mail, a new study called "Governing the Internet" by 56-nation OSCE found that in addition to censorship, others have adopted needlessly restrictive legislation and government policy. Malaysia, for instance, plans laws that will prosecute bloggers and authorities who insult Islam.

And in Kazakhstan, information minister Yermukhamet Yertysbayev has vowed to purge Kazakh sites of “dirt” and “lies.”
"Those who think it is impossible to control the Internet can continue living in a world of illusions," Yertysbayev told the Vremya newspaper in a recent interview.
The report compares Kazakhstan's efforts to curb online journalism to Soviet-era "spy mania," where the country subjects blogs - even personal pages - to civil prosectution.

Information on other countries and their internet "management" practices is available at the complete report.