The Kazakh government has drafted amendments to existing legislation that would regulate how users under the age of 16 register on online platforms.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the proposed changes in response to a parliamentary inquiry, saying Qurultay deputies are currently reviewing the amendments, The Caspian Post reports, citing Qazinform.

If the legislation is adopted, the government will establish specific procedures for verifying the ages of users on online platforms.

“The rules will take into account the mechanisms platforms already use, the potential for identification through artificial intelligence, the content users view, and their activity. Online platforms already have the required technological capabilities,” Bektenov said.

He cited Meta as an example, noting that the company plans to introduce an AgeKey system for age verification. The technology is based on the passkey principle used in biometric authentication, including fingerprint and facial recognition.

The government plans to provide a transition period for implementing the new requirements. It will also consider temporarily suspending existing accounts belonging to users under 16.

The proposed regulation will be discussed with representatives of online platforms operating in Kazakhstan. The government said the planned measures would focus on verifying users’ ages without exposing their personal data.

“This will protect children's rights and legitimate interests in the digital space and create a safe digital environment for minors,” the prime minister emphasized.