Initiatives on state control over social networks are heard more often

Baku/13.05.21/Turan: Proposals on the introduction of state control over social networks have become more often. MPs and some experts have expressed concern about the widespread abuse and defamation on social media. Some of them even propose to amend the legislation and toughen penalties for this. Should there be control over social media? Can this be done? What will be the results if a control mechanism is introduced in Azerbaijan? Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Human Rights, told Turan that it is impossible to control social networks.

"This is a different model. These social networks should have representation in countries or regions. Turkey has resolved this issue in accordance with the legislation. This is very important," he said. The MP noted that many violations could be seen on social networks, such as insults, death threats, terrorist activities and others.

“Such attempts by various people on social networks are of great concern. Therefore, in order to avoid illegal steps in this direction, we appeal to the representatives of those social networks in the country to collect these materials or to provide assistance in identifying and prosecuting a specific subject,” Mustafa said. The member of the committee believes that this is not about control by state bodies in any legal form.

“The talk is about constructive cooperation between government agencies and representatives of the same segment of social networks,” he said. Media expert and lawyer Alasgar Mammadli said calls for restrictions and systematic control over social media are not new.

"In this regard, problems often arise in different countries. This happens more systematically in countries where democracies are smaller and, as a rule, less developed. But, unfortunately, the first debates on this issue have already begun in Germany, and in Turkey there are more serious claims, in the United States during the Trump era there were demands to impose certain restrictions, ”he said.

According to the expert, governments are trying, under various pretexts, in particular in the name of protecting the rights and interests of individuals, to impose certain restrictions on social networks.

“These are restrictions related to the distributed content. Since none of the social media platforms is located in Azerbaijan, the requirements for them may be more similar than in Turkey. That is, without fail, a provision on access to protected office information may be introduced into the legislation here; the state may require the deletion or tracking of some personal data. Otherwise, the owner of the information may face fines or restrictions on activities in the country,” he said. Mammadli noted that this would be expressed in any form of pressure on social media content, especially against critics of the government.

The second method involves blocking access to social media in the country as a whole, the expert emphasized. "It can also work partially. Because proxy programs do not allow doing this. Practice shows that at one time, when Turkey took such steps on Twitter and YouTube, the number of users grew. That is, this is not an effective method," Mammadli said. —0—