Master
Student of the Faculty of International Relationships (International Law
department) Tanekova M. O.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
Scientific Manager Ph.D Yerjanov T.K.
Social
networks as a threat to national security
It is worth noting, that social networks today have a
tremendous success among the population. This resource is popular among
different age groups regardless of social status or wealth. Also the purposes
of using social networks vary considerably. For someone - this is just an
opportunity to communicate or to get new information. This category of users is
passive, as they simply consume everything created and developed on the
Internet. Another category of people is more active and use social networks as
a platform for self-promotion and development of their own ideas. Especially
this group of users can be defined as the greatest threat to the security of
the information space. The ideas of active users do not always have a purely
friendly character, but on the contrary, are often the source of radical propaganda.
Sometimes this leads to irreparable consequences.
Today, social networks are becoming a fundamental
lever in organizing various anti-social actions, dissemination of extremist and
terrorist climate. Social networks allow users to communicate, to find support,
to unite common interests, to express their opinions anonymously and to create
a new personal image. Customers living in the information and communication
space are predisposed to hypnosis, as psychological, spiritual and
communicative link is extremely important for them. In the information and
communication world social networks allow each person, regardless of location,
communicate with others and access information.
One of the main and most serious disadvantages of
social networks is the incitement of ethnic hatred. It becomes a real problem
in the post-Soviet countries. Taking into consideration the bitter experience
of Ukraine, the exhortation to the incitement of ethnic hatred can lead to
serious consequences and become a real threat to the most important priorities
of national security.
The Republic of Kazakhstan in this aspect is not an
exception. The activist of the group “Antiheptyl” Saken Baikenov was arrested
on March 7 in Almaty. Then the court in Astana warranted his arrest on charges
of inciting the ethnic hatred in his publications in the social network
Facebook. The Participants of “Antiheptyl” argued against the launches of
Russian rockets using heptyl fuel from Baikonur Spaceport in Kazakhstan [1].
Saken Baikenov confessed to the authorship of the publications
posted on his page in the social network Facebook. He is ready to bear
responsibility for the violation of the law.
Unfortunately, these cases are not unique. In Aktobe
35-year-old man was arrested for the
promotion of terrorism via Whatsapp . Local resident was sending via Whatsapp
the video demonstrating Mujahideen regular
fights and appeals to jihad. According to investigation, the man was the
representative of radical Islam. The members of the conference in Whatsapp sent
audio and video clips, including an appeal to Kazakh Mujahideen in the Kazakh
language with Russian subtitles. One of the videos ends with the words “forward
to jihad” [2].
The threat of the dissemination of radical ideas on
the Internet has reached such a high level that in the members of Parliament of
the Republic of Kazakhstan moved on to discuss the possibility of blocking
social networks. According to the National Security Committee, about 400 of our
citizens went abroad with their families to participate in the terrorist
actions of the radical group Islamic State [3].
Of course, the absolute blocking of social networking
- is not a solution to the problem, since this measure represents a serious
violation of the rights of citizens to receive and disseminate information.
However, there is no effective way to control the promotion of radical ideas
before they have acquired popularity in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This issue is important not only in the Republic of
Kazakhstan. So, the neighboring state of Kyrgyzstan also experienced the problems
with the spread of inappropriate content in social networks. Social networks
are related to the events of 2010 in Kyrgyzstan. Through social networks
antisocial organizers of mass actions to coordinated their activities, creating
the sense of ownership among the population about the events happening there.
Especially social networks helped to collect a huge crowd, creating a
revolutionary situation, and contributed to the spread of false rumors and
provocations of violence. Important role in this actions played «Facebook» and
local diesel.elcat.kg, kloop.kg [4].
It is not difficult to conclude that social networks
are a simple method of influence on the consciousness of the crowd. Young
people remained dissatisfied in modern society are claimed to be especially
vulnerable. There are many reasons, but the social factor has a prominent
influence: the poorness, unemployment, difficult childhood and the absence of
normal living conditions.
The problem of national extremism is also relevant in
the Russian Federation. In general, these groups and mainstreams, such as the
“Union of Russian fascists", “Schulz 88”, “Mushroom Elves”, “Russian
skinheads” and others include about 150,000 people, mostly young students,
getting professional and higher education, as well as junior Russian army
officers, teachers and young lectors in colleges, technical schools and
universities, managers and office workers [5].
Thus, nowadays social networks are not only the harmless
means of communication, but also a powerful platform for the brainwashing of
the society and searching for like-minded colleagues to create negative climate.
Moreover, virtual communication of people has serious consequences, as their
groups can be easily transformed into real terrorist organizations.
Underestimating the strength of social networks can lead to disastrous
consequences. In this regard, it is necessary to start developing a rapid
response mechanism to the threat of social networks. First of all, the state
should create a special body in the law enforcement system, which will deal
with the control and further investigation of crimes on the social networks.
Unfortunately, at the present moment the majority of law enforcement officers do
not have qualification in this area. Accordingly, the ability to monitor the
activities in the social networks effectively has fall down to zero level in
The Republic of Kazakhstan.
References:
1. Saken Baikenov was sentenced to two years of restraint of liberty. -
April 13, 2015 // http://rus.azattyq.mobi/a/26953332.html
2. The citizens of Aktobe were called
for jihad through Whatsapp.- April 9, 2015 // https://news.mail.ru/inworld/kazakhstan/incident/22604948/?frommail=1
3. The Majilis raised the issue of blocking social networks from the
threat of ISIL.-July1,2015
// https://news.mail.ru/inworld/kazakhstan/politics/22522951/?frommail=1
4. Rose Toksonalieva Social networks as a threat to the information security of the Kyrgyz Republic. –
18.12. 2014 // http://easttime.ru/analytics/kyrgyzstan/sotsialnye-seti-kak-ugroza-informatsionnoi-bezopasnosti-kyrgyzskoi-respubliki/8
5. V. V. Shiller, N. N.
Sheludkov RUSSIAN SOCIAL NETWORKS AS POTENTIAL DANGER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF
RUSSIA (as exemplified by Odnoklassniki and Vkontakte) // Bulletin of KemSU
2013 ¹ 1 (53).