Digital governance or digital authoritarianism? The ambiguities of e-government in Kazakhstan

The digital transformation of public services in Kazakhstan, spearheaded by initiatives such as eGov.kz and E-Otinish citizen-driven digital platforms aimed at boosting public participation in government decision-making, has often been celebrated as a leap toward transparency and citizen-centered governance. However, this commentary seeks to analyze the dual-use nature of these digital systems, revealing how the same platforms used to deliver services efficiently can be leveraged to consolidate political control. Drawing on recent developments in Kazakhstan's e-government ecosystem and legislative expansions into digital surveillance capacities, the paper explores how biometric data collection, digital ID systems, and centralized information platforms intersect with authoritarian governance trends. It argues that while digital governance tools enhance service delivery, they also entrench state power in ways that may suppress dissent and inhibit democratic participation. The commentary reflects on Kazakhstan's geopolitical balancing between innovation and information control, situating the case within global trends of digital authoritarianism.