AZE.US
Azerbaijani politician Ilgar Mammadov, chairman of the REAL Party, has criticized proposed new penalties in Azerbaijan related to artificial intelligence-generated content.
In a post published on Facebook, Mammadov said that the Milli Majlis is expected to approve new fines and prison sentences next week for cases where images or videos created with artificial intelligence are distributed without proper labeling. According to discussions around the proposed measures, violations could carry prison terms of up to seven years.
Mammadov argued that excessive regulation of emerging technologies could harm the country’s long-term development. To illustrate his point, he drew a historical parallel with the early spread of printing technology.
He noted that when the printing press appeared in the Middle Ages, it was quickly introduced to the Eastern world as well. However, rulers in the region limited its use, fearing that mass production of books would undermine their perceived sacred value. As a result, handwritten manuscripts remained dominant for centuries.
In contrast, printing in Western societies was allowed to develop more freely. Although books became less exclusive, Mammadov said the wider spread of printed materials encouraged debate, creativity, and scientific progress.
“Societies adapt quickly to new conditions, while states often struggle to keep pace,” Mammadov wrote, arguing that people are increasingly able to evaluate information themselves and distinguish authentic content from manipulated material.
The politician also warned that overly strict regulation could leave the country behind in the global technology race.
He pointed out that the United States – one of the world’s leading centers of artificial intelligence development – is investing billions of dollars in strategic cooperation with Armenia in the field.
Mammadov said Azerbaijan should avoid repeating historical mistakes that could slow technological progress and weaken its future competitiveness.