August 2, 2025 – Baku
A sweeping new law in the United Kingdom is reigniting debate in Azerbaijan over internet freedom and digital surveillance. The UK’s Online Safety Act, now in force, requires all platforms to verify users’ ages using documents like passports, driver’s licenses, banking details, or facial recognition systems—ostensibly to protect children from harmful content.
But critics argue the law opens the door to state overreach and censorship. In the UK, demand for VPN services has surged by 1,400% in recent days as users seek to avoid surveillance. Meanwhile, some have reported being unable to access videos of opposition politicians or footage of activist arrests.
Now, Azerbaijan is asking: Should it adopt similar digital ID controls?
Parliamentary Debate and Public Concerns
Member of Parliament Jeyhun Mammadov confirmed to Media.Az that such measures have been under discussion in Azerbaijan, but warned against simplistic solutions.
“Some people think if we shut down social networks, everything will magically improve—society will suddenly become more moral and well-behaved,” Mammadov said. “But that’s not realistic.”
He acknowledged that access controls might eventually be implemented in some form, but stressed that social media is merely a mirror of society, not its root problem.
“Blaming the platforms solves nothing. Instead, we must address the underlying causes of social and moral issues,” he added.
Balancing Safety and Freedom
Supporters of the UK model argue that mandatory ID checks are necessary to keep minors safe from online abuse, misinformation, and exploitation. But opponents warn that such systems—especially facial recognition or linking accounts to national ID cards—risk creating a surveillance state, chilling free speech and dissent.
In Azerbaijan, concerns about press freedom and political censorship remain high, especially after recent internet restrictions and the blocking of independent media outlets. Critics fear that any move to adopt “passport-to-login” rules could quickly morph into a tool for monitoring users and silencing critics.
Azerbaijan’s Digital Crossroads
As discussions around online regulation continue, Mammadov emphasized the importance of strengthening societal values rather than enforcing blanket bans.
“We need to build moral immunity through education and cultural development—not through fear or forced compliance,” he said.
Whether Azerbaijan follows the UK’s lead or charts its own path, the debate highlights a growing global tension: how to protect users—especially children—while preserving the internet as a space for free expression.
