ASTANA -- Kazakhstan's parliament has adopted controversial amendments to the Law on Information and Communications Networks, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
The law now goes to President Nursultan Nazarbaev for his signature.
Under the amendments, all online resources, including chats, blogs, and forums, are considered mass media in Kazakhstan.
The changes will allow officials to prosecute owners of online resources and shut down websites, including those based abroad.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had urged Kazakhstan not to adopt the amendments, saying they might be used to block online resources for Internet users in the country.
Kazakhstan is scheduled to chair the OSCE next year.
The law now goes to President Nursultan Nazarbaev for his signature.
Under the amendments, all online resources, including chats, blogs, and forums, are considered mass media in Kazakhstan.
The changes will allow officials to prosecute owners of online resources and shut down websites, including those based abroad.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had urged Kazakhstan not to adopt the amendments, saying they might be used to block online resources for Internet users in the country.
Kazakhstan is scheduled to chair the OSCE next year.