The Milli Majlis has adopted, in the final reading, new administrative fines for social media platforms that fail to comply with age restriction and safety requirements in Azerbaijan.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, these amendments were discussed during the extraordinary session of the parliament. The changes affect the Code of Administrative Offenses, as well as the laws "On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information" and "On the Protection of Children from Harmful Information."
The new legislation introduces significant financial penalties. Officials failing to provide required information or submitting incomplete data face fines between 6,000 and 7,000 AZN, while legal entities face fines ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 AZN. Furthermore, failure to respond to official inquiries within five business days will result in fines of 7,000–8,000 AZN for officials and 25,000–30,000 AZN for legal entities.
The law also targets specific safety failures, including the lack of technical measures to protect users aged 16–18, failure to prevent the spread of harmful content, unauthorized use of personal data for commercial advertising, and failure to delete content upon request. Penalties for these violations range from 8,000 to 9,000 AZN for officials and 35,000 to 40,000 AZN for legal entities. Repeat offenses within one year will incur even higher fines, reaching up to 50,000 AZN for legal entities.
This legislative move aligns with Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to enhance digital safety and protect minors from harmful online content. By mandating stricter compliance for social media providers, the government aims to create a more secure digital environment. The law is scheduled to come into force 12 months after its official publication.
