AZE.US
Platforms will be required to remove harmful content within 24 hours, protect teenage accounts and stop using age-verification data for targeted advertising.
Azerbaijan is introducing new rules for age-restricted social media platforms, with fines reaching AZN 50,000 ($29,400) for repeated violations involving the safety and personal data of minors.
President Ilham Aliyev signed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and laws governing information security and the protection of children from harmful content, AZE.US reports, citing Report.
One of the most significant provisions concerns the digital footprint of minors. Social media companies will be required to delete posts, shared content and personal information uploaded by users before they turn 18 if requested by the users themselves, their legal representatives or an authorized government agency.
Teen Data Cannot Be Used for Advertising
Information collected to verify a user’s age may not be transferred to third parties or used for commercial purposes, targeted advertising or any activity unrelated to age verification.
Platforms must also introduce additional technical and security protections for accounts belonging to users aged 16 to 18.
Social networks will be required to operate continuous digital monitoring systems capable of identifying content that threatens minors’ lives, health, sexual integrity, honor, dignity or other legally protected rights.
Once harmful material is detected, the platform must prevent its further distribution within 24 hours.
Failure to comply with age-verification, data protection, content removal and account safety requirements will result in fines of:
- AZN 8,000 to AZN 9,000 ($4,700 to $5,300) for responsible officials;
- AZN 35,000 to AZN 40,000 ($20,600 to $23,500) for companies.
If the same offense is repeated within one year, the penalties will increase to:
- AZN 9,000 to AZN 10,000 ($5,300 to $5,900) for officials;
- AZN 45,000 to AZN 50,000 ($26,500 to $29,400) for companies.
Platforms Must Answer Government Requests
Social media providers will also be required to respond to inquiries from the designated Azerbaijani authority within five business days.
Companies that fail to respond or submit incomplete or distorted information will face fines ranging from AZN 25,000 to AZN 30,000 ($14,700 to $17,600). Responsible officials may be fined between AZN 7,000 and AZN 8,000 ($4,100 to $4,700).
Failure to provide other legally required information, missing submission deadlines or supplying inaccurate data will carry penalties of AZN 15,000 to AZN 20,000 ($8,800 to $11,800) for legal entities.
List of Platforms Not Yet Published
The government has not yet announced which social media services will be subject to the new age restrictions.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport has been instructed to approve the list within five months and report it to the president.
The legislation will take effect 12 months after its official publication, giving social media providers a transition period to introduce age-verification and child-safety systems.
AZE.US