The Milli Majlis has adopted in the first reading fines for violations of requirements related to the activities of social network platforms that apply age restrictions in Azerbaijan.
elchi reports that the issue was discussed at today’s meeting of the extraordinary session of the parliament as part of a draft law on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” and the Law “On Protection of Children from Harmful Information”.
According to the new article, failure to submit information specified in Article 13-4.13 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” to the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority, or violation of the submission deadline, or submission of incomplete or distorted information will result in fines for officials in the amount of 6,000 to 7,000 manats, and for legal entities in the amount of 15,000 to 20,000 manats.
In addition, in accordance with Article 13-5.5 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information”, failure by the provider of a social network platform that applies age restrictions to respond to requests sent by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority within 5 business days, or submission of incomplete or distorted information will result in:
– fines for officials in the amount of 7,000 to 8,000 manats, and for legal entities in the amount of 25,000 to 30,000 manats.
Furthermore, for violations of requirements related to the safe use of social network platforms that apply age restrictions, namely failure to apply technical methods established in Articles 13-4.2 and 13-4.4 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” during the creation of a personal digital account, or applying them in violation of the requirements of Articles 13-4.2 – 13-4.5 of the same Law;
– failure to ensure technical and security measures specified in Article 13-4.11 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” regarding the personal digital accounts of users aged 16-18;
– failure to apply digital solutions that operate continuously and ensure operational intervention on the platform to prevent the dissemination of harmful content that poses a threat to the life, health, sexual integrity, honor, dignity, and other rights and freedoms protected by law of users aged 16-18, or failure to prevent the dissemination of harmful content within 24 hours from the moment of its detection;
– storage of collected personal data in the information system of social network platform providers, transfer of such data to third parties, or use of personal data for commercial, targeted advertising (directed at a specific user), or other purposes, except for the purpose of age verification;
– failure to ensure the deletion of information, shared content, and personal data posted by a person with a personal digital account before reaching the age of majority, upon the request of the person themselves, or if they are a minor, upon the request of their legal representative or the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority, will result in fines for officials in the amount of 8,000 to 9,000 manats, and for legal entities in the amount of 35,000 to 40,000 manats.
For repeated commission of offenses provided for in Articles 388-4.1 – 388-4.3 of this Code by a person who has received an administrative penalty within one year from the date the decision on the administrative penalty enters into force, officials will be fined in the amount of 9,000 to 10,000 manats, and legal entities in the amount of 45,000 to 50,000 manats.
The law will enter into force 12 months after the date of its publication.