Marat Bashimov, a deputy of Kazakhstan’s Majilis, has expressed support for a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at strengthening the protection of personal data, Qazinform News Agency reports on January 26.
Bashimov states that the protection of personal rights and freedoms is rooted in the constitutional principle that “the human being, their life, rights, and freedoms are the highest values of the state.” He emphasized that aspects of an individual’s private life that they do not wish to make public constitute personal sovereignty, which should remain beyond societal or state control.
The proposed amendment seeks to safeguard citizens against the unlawful collection, processing, storage, and use of personal data, including data managed through digital technologies. Bashimov says that this protection falls within the broader framework of the constitutional right to personal liberty and the inviolability of private and family life, encompassing rights to privacy and personal and family secrecy.
He highlighted that the amendment would explicitly guarantee every individual’s right to protection from unauthorized handling of personal data, thereby reinforcing the legal safeguards for digital and non-digital information alike.
Earlier, during the third session of the Constitutional Commission, Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastayev presented proposals to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in Kazakhstan, including measures related to personal data security.
Earlier Daryo reported that, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan also reviewed and approved in the first reading a draft law amending the country’s personal data legislation, forwarding it to the Senate for further consideration.
The discussion highlighted that ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan aim to develop the fintech sector, expand non-cash payments, increase tourist inflows, and grow tourism services, all of which require wider use of digital payment systems and cooperation with international online payment providers.
The draft law clarifies which types of personal data must be stored within Uzbekistan and establishes conditions for processing and storing certain data abroad, including compliance with security standards, international norms, and regulations of the authorized state body.
