Azerbaijan to restrict access to banned online content, toughen penalties for illegal gambling

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has approved amendments to the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the law on information and information protection.

The changes allow authorities to temporarily restrict access to online resources carrying information on the manufacture or illegal acquisition of narcotics, content violating privacy, and false information deemed capable of endangering lives, public safety or critical infrastructure.

An authorised executive body will be able to order the temporary blocking of an online resource or part of it.

The amendments also ease conditions for exemption from criminal liability for certain economic offences. Individuals who fully compensate for damage or return criminal proceeds to the state budget may avoid prosecution by paying an additional 50% of the relevant amount. Previously, the additional payment was equal to the full amount of the damage or proceeds.

The legislation broadens the definition of sham entrepreneurship and increases penalties for organising illegal gambling through the internet, mobile networks and social media platforms. Offences involving minors may carry prison terms of up to four years, rising to five years when committed by an organised group or involving especially large proceeds.

The government has been instructed to submit proposals within seven months for an information system that would use artificial intelligence and other technologies to automatically detect prohibited content and prevent its publication online.

N.Tebrizli