What determines public support for algorithmic governance solutions (AGS) in an autocracy?
We investigate this question with the help of an original survey (N=3124) conducted in March 2025 in Kazakhstan.
AGS are increasingly exported by China and a number of other countries, with Central Asia being a primary destination of China's Digital Silk Road initiative.
These systems can make governance more efficient, but also have the potential to establish authoritarian rule through sophisticated digital surveillance.
We find a high baseline approval of 78.1% for AGS in Kazakhstan, similar to approval rates in China.
Framing AGS as a solution to corruption or Islamic fundamentalism significantly increases support, while linking it to other issues like public health, security, or trust in business has no effect.
Highlighting the potential of AGS for political control reduces support by 5.9%, indicating that even in autocratic contexts, concerns over political repression influence public attitudes.
However, this reduction is notably smaller than a 25% reduction we identified from a similar survey conducted in Russia in October 2022, indicating variation between autocracies.
By offering nuanced insights into public opinion on AGS in a Central Asian autocracy, this paper contributes to the broader literature on digital authoritarianism and algorithmic governance.
