New fines set in Azerbaijan for violating age restriction requirements on social media

New fines have been set in Azerbaijan for violations of requirements related to the activities of social media platforms subject to age restrictions.

This is reflected in the law approved by President Ilham Aliyev.

The text of the document has been published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

For failure to provide the body (entity) determined by the relevant executive authority with the information specified in Article 13-4.13 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information,” or for violating the deadlines for providing it, as well as for providing incomplete or distorted information, officials will be fined between 6,000 and 7,000 manats, and legal entities between 15,000 and 20,000 manats.

For failure by the provider of a social media platform subject to age restrictions to respond within 5 working days to inquiries sent by the body (entity) determined by the relevant executive authority, as well as for providing incomplete or distorted information, officials will be fined between 7,000 and 8,000 manats, and legal entities between 25,000 and 30,000 manats.

For violating the requirements for the safe use of social media platforms with age restrictions, namely for:

• failure to apply the technical methods established by Articles 13-4.2 and 13-4.4 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” when creating a personal digital account, or applying them in violation of the requirements of Articles 13-4.2–13-4.5 of this law;

• failure to ensure the technical and security measures specified in Article 13-4.11 of the Law “On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information” with respect to the personal digital accounts of users aged 16 to 18;

• failure to apply digital solutions operating continuously and ensuring prompt intervention to prevent the dissemination of harmful content posing a threat to the life, health, sexual inviolability, honor, dignity and other rights and freedoms protected by law of users aged 16 to 18, or failure to prevent the dissemination of harmful content within 24 hours from the moment of its detection;

• storing collected personal data in the information system of social media platform providers, transferring this data to third parties, or using personal data for commercial purposes, for targeted advertising (aimed at a specific user) or for other purposes, with the exception of the purpose of age verification;

• failure to ensure the deletion of information, published content and personal data posted by a person with a personal digital account before reaching adulthood, on the basis of an application by the person himself, and in the case of a minor — by his legal representative or the body (entity) determined by the relevant executive authority

officials will be fined between 8,000 and 9,000 manats, and legal entities between 35,000 and 40,000 manats.

For repeated commission of any of the above offenses by a person who has received an administrative penalty, within one year from the date of entry into force of the decision imposing the administrative penalty, officials will be fined between 9,000 and 10,000 manats, and legal entities between 45,000 and 50,000 manats.