Dastan Bekeshev Against the Block
In his open address to the chairman of the GKNB, Deputy Bekeshev characterized the blocking of TikTok as "meaningless." He emphasized that the current measures do not contribute to ensuring security; on the contrary, they create additional risks for citizens and the country's economy.
“I believe that blocking TikTok does not achieve its goals and only exacerbates the situation, increasing risks for the population and the economy,” he noted in his letter.
GKNB Sees Dangers in TikTok
Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov, in an interview with a local newspaper, focused on the harm of social networks, especially TikTok, to youth. He pointed out that the platform is actively used for the promotion of drugs, alcohol, gambling, and violence, which threatens traditional values.
According to him, TikTok rejects family and cultural values, which can negatively affect the younger generation.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Culture proposed blocking TikTok, and in April 2024, access to the platform was officially restricted.
The main reason was violations observed in the content that do not comply with Article 2-1 of the Law "On Measures to Prevent Harm to Children's Health," which pertains to information harmful to their development.
Shabdanbekov added that the decision to block was made after numerous appeals from citizens, NGOs, and deputies pointing out content that does not align with Kyrgyz mentality.
Despite the ban, many users continue to use TikTok via VPN, and some advocate for its unblocking, seeing potential for business and tourism on the platform.
“The future of our children is more important than any social network. No digital platform, including TikTok, can surpass the health and education of the younger generation,” he emphasized.
Ineffectiveness of the Block
Dastan Bekeshev also noted that TikTok has implemented various user protection measures, such as content filters and parental controls, which can help combat undesirable content without a complete block. He pointed out that simply banning one platform does not solve the problem, as similar content is available on other sites.
The deputy believes that the block only encourages users to massively use VPNs to bypass restrictions.
“In my opinion, the block is impractical, as similar content can be found on other platforms, such as YouTube or Instagram. It makes no sense. I suspect there are some geopolitical motives at play. Therefore, I called on the head of the GKNB to lift the TikTok block, as it is beneficial for our entrepreneurs. For example, flower shops can advertise their services, and Kyrgyz people can share interesting places in our country. Instagram is certainly good, but it doesn’t have the algorithms that TikTok does,” he noted in an interview with 24.kg.
Discussion on Unblocking TikTok
On February 19, the issue of the feasibility of blocking TikTok was raised at a meeting of the Ministry of Culture board. Deputy Minister Marat Tagaev suggested reconsidering this decision, mentioning the lack of an agency to interact with social platforms after the dissolution of the Information Environment Monitoring Center. He also noted that despite the block, users, including youth, continue to use TikTok via VPN.
