Any Ban on Social Networks Unproductive and Harmful - Experts

Baku / 14.02.19 / Turan: The authorities in Azerbaijan are concerned about the growing criticism of social networks and especially the use of obscene expressions.

However, this was the answer of opposition-minded Facebook activists to similar actions by the authorities, who for years have been doing the same thing in violation of the law and ethical norms.

The trend of obscene controversy on the Internet indicates that pro-government trolls are losing ground under the pressure of growing oppositional information pressure.

This trend has forced the authorities to hold a forum to find ways out of this situation. On February 13, a meeting of politicians and experts was discussed at the central headquarters of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, which discussed countermeasures.

The head of the NGO Multimedia, Osman Gunduz, said on his Facebook page that the event was useful, and deputies Ali Ahmedov (Deputy Prime Minister), Azay Guliyev and Bahar Muradova, in their speeches noted the lack of intentions to restrict the Internet. At the same time, suggestions were made to clean social networks from "harmful information".

"In the final speech of the Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov, I did not understand the phrase about the possibility of using other technical means to combat the negative consequences. If we mean the secret means of spying on users and illegal programs used in anti-democratic countries, then we do not support this. Such measures will not bring Azerbaijan respect," Gunduz writes.

In his opinion, the solution to the problem is in self-regulation and public censure. Enlightenment should be strengthened, efforts should be made to involve socially active citizens, deputies, officials in social media, develop AzNet, social media, and national content. "

"It is necessary to treat social media not only as a platform for public discussion, but in a broader aspect. We do not consider acceptable any restrictions, registration of identity cards and calls for it on the part of the deputies," Gunduz said.

Recall that on the eve of discussions in Yeni Azerbaijan, MP from this party, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on social policy Musa Guliyev, called for "closing" social networks in connection with insults and threats to security coming from abroad. At the same time, he proposed to create "national social networks". And the Vice-Premier and deputy chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan party, Ali Ahmedov, complained that it was impossible to "legally defend" in social networks.

"Azerbaijan has legal norms regulating the solution of this problem, but there are no mechanisms of application. Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions, find ways to stop this disgrace. In some countries, they even restrict the Internet. I am absolutely against the restriction of the Internet, but it is necessary to find options for technical and legal control against insults on the Internet," said Ahmedov.

Azerbaijani bloggers and readers are actively discussing possible restraining plans on social networks.

To offer to close access to global social networks is not only harmful, but also meaningless. There are a lot of useful information in social networks, it is a platform for informing the world community about Azerbaijan, and finally, it is a great tool to track trends within the country.

Finally, any restrictions can be circumvented technically, and a national social network can be created, which the society will not accept, as evidenced by the example of the yalli.az network, blogger Hamid Hamidov writes.

There are no restrictions in social networks in Azerbaijan, but access to more than ten sites of different directions is closed. However, users are actively using the program, bypassing this barrier. Users download this software for free from the Internet. -0-