Baku: New requirements for registering minors on social media platforms are being introduced in Azerbaijan, APA reports. This development is part of proposed amendments to the Law ‘On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information’, which were reviewed in the latest session of the Milli Majlis.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the draft law outlines that individuals under 16 will be prohibited from creating personal digital accounts on specified platforms. The platforms subject to these regulations will be identified by a designated body appointed by the relevant executive authority.
The draft mandates several technical methods for age verification. These include declaring the individual’s age, verifying it, and obtaining consent from a legal representative for users aged 16-18. Verification involves sending requests to the email and mobile number of the user and their legal representative, as well as temporarily withdrawing funds from a bank card for confirmation.
Once verified as being 16 or older, individuals can create digital accounts. However, parents or legal guardians will have the ability to manage content, advertisements, and usage hours for minors aged 16-18. Providers are required to offer functionalities that facilitate such supervision.
Regular analysis of user behavior and periodic age verification is mandated, with immediate account restrictions for any breach in age compliance. Providers are prohibited from storing or misusing personal data collected during age verification and must delete it once the process is completed.
The law also mandates the deletion of any content and personal data posted by minors upon request or upon reaching adulthood. Measures to prevent harmful content that could endanger minors’ well-being must be implemented, with intervention required within 24 hours of detection.
The law will take effect twelve months after publication, with providers expected to have the necessary technical capabilities in place. Existing accounts of users under 16 will be restricted or deleted if age verification does not confirm eligibility.
The proposed law has passed its first reading following a vote in the Milli Majlis.