Public perception of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic context: evidence from Kazakhstan

Daria Gritsenko; Alexei Trochev; Kimmo Vehkalahti

doi:10.1080/10439463.2025.2489954

Public perception of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic context: evidence from Kazakhstan

Daria Gritsenko
, Alexei Trochev
, Kimmo Vehkalahti

University of Helsinki

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Governments around the world use advanced computer algorithms and data-driven systems to enhance their law enforcement systems. Research on public attitudes towards the use of such algorithmic policing in non-democratic countries remains scarce. Our study addresses this gap by exploring attitudinal factors influencing the acceptance of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic regime with a novel dataset from a survey conducted in Kazakhstan in May 2023 (N = 1748). Our findings contribute to the literature on algorithmic policing and authoritarian digitalisation, demonstrating how algorithmic tools become a part of the ‘authoritarian bargain’ to deliver governance efficiency without political reforms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1357-1376
Number of pages	20
Journal	Policing and Society
Volume	35
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2025.2489954
Publication status	Published - 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Arts under Future Development Fund Grant 2022; and the European Union European Research Council under grant number 101116772. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. We would like to thank three anonymous reviewers for their comments on our manuscript and the editors for their constructive suggestions. We further extend our gratitude to Vaibhav Agarwal for brilliant research assistance. A previous version of this paper has been presented at the International Conference ‘The Discreet Charm of Prediction: Understandings of Digital Policing’ (IT University Copenhagen, 29–30 January 2024) and benefited from discussions with its participants.

Funders	Funder number
Understandings of Digital Policing
Helsingin Yliopisto	2022
European Research Council	101116772

Keywords

Algorithmic policing
authoritarian digitalisation
Kazakhstan
public acceptance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sociology and Political Science
Law

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10.1080/10439463.2025.2489954

Cite this

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abstract = "Governments around the world use advanced computer algorithms and data-driven systems to enhance their law enforcement systems. Research on public attitudes towards the use of such algorithmic policing in non-democratic countries remains scarce. Our study addresses this gap by exploring attitudinal factors influencing the acceptance of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic regime with a novel dataset from a survey conducted in Kazakhstan in May 2023 (N = 1748). Our findings contribute to the literature on algorithmic policing and authoritarian digitalisation, demonstrating how algorithmic tools become a part of the {\textquoteleft}authoritarian bargain{\textquoteright} to deliver governance efficiency without political reforms.",

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Public perception of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic context: evidence from Kazakhstan

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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