Online Safety: A New Dialogue Between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Meta

Kazakhstan's Minister of Internal Affairs, Yerzhan Sadenov, recently participated in the "TeenAccounts" forum held at M. Narikbayev University.

The central topic of the event was online safety for teenagers. The discussion brought together leadership from Meta (the company behind platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) and digital protection experts.

During his address, the Minister emphasized that safeguarding children and teenagers online is a top priority for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He highlighted the growing risks associated with cyberbullying, access to harmful content, and the involvement of minors in illegal activities.

On the sidelines of the forum, Minister held a bilateral meeting with Simon Milner, Meta's Vice President for Government Relations.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted the increasing use of digital technologies by criminals for illegal goals — for internet fraud, drug trafficking, dissemination of pornographic materials, and other illicit information.

Simon Milner expressed support for Kazakhstan's proposals to establish a direct communication channel, form a working group, and launch educational campaigns aimed at improving users' legal and financial literacy.

Both parties affirmed their readiness to develop a sustainable partnership in the realm of digital security and protecting users from online threats.