Milli Majlis adopts final-reading fines to protect children's rights on social media

Milli Majlis has adopted in the third and final reading a draft law introducing significant fines for violations of requirements related to social media platforms subject to age restrictions.

According to Report, the relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, the laws "On Information, Informatization and Information Protection" and "On Protection of Children from Harmful Information" were discussed at today's extraordinary parliamentary session.

According to the draft law, fines will be imposed on social media providers with age restrictions for failing to provide, providing late, or submitting incomplete or distorted information to the authorized state body.

In such cases, officials face fines ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 manats, while legal entities face fines from 15,000 to 20,000 manats.

The draft law also introduces administrative liability for failure to comply with requests from the authorized body. Failure to respond within five working days, or providing incomplete or inaccurate information, will result in fines of 7,000 to 8,000 manats for officials and 25,000 to 30,000 manats for legal entities.

In addition, the bill establishes liability for violating requirements ensuring the safe use of social networks by minors.

This includes failure to implement age verification mechanisms when creating digital accounts, lack of necessary technical and protective measures for users aged 16 to 18, and failure to prevent the spread of harmful content that threatens the life, health, honor, dignity, and other rights of minors.

Platforms may also be held liable for storing and using user personal data for purposes unrelated to age verification, including commercial use and targeted advertising, as well as for refusing to delete content and personal data posted before reaching adulthood upon request from the user, legal representative, or authorized body.

For such violations, officials face fines of 8,000 to 9,000 manats, and legal entities face fines of 35,000 to 40,000 manats.

In case of repeat violations within one year, fines will range from 9,000 to 10,000 manats for officials and 45,000 to 50,000 manats for legal entities.

The law will enter into force 12 months after official publication.

After discussions, the draft law was put to a vote and adopted in its third reading.