Azerbaijan’s parliament is preparing to vote on amendments that would allow authorities to temporarily block websites without a court order, raising fears of increased self-censorship among independent media.
Under the proposed changes to the country’s information law, executive bodies will be empowered to restrict access to online platforms if they are deemed to host prohibited material.
The bill was approved during a joint parliamentary committee meeting on 23 June and is scheduled for its final third reading in the Milli Majlis (parliament) on 30 June.
Existing legislation already bans content related to illegal drugs, pornography, gambling, and suicide promotion, as well as defamation and “false information” deemed a threat to public safety.
However, legal experts warn that the new mechanism bypasses the judiciary and introduces vague definitions that could target legitimate journalistic work.
“Terms like ‘false information’ or ‘information that could cause public danger’ allow for broad interpretation,” Fariz Namazli, a legal expert, told independent outlet Abzas Media.
“Without concrete criteria, it creates serious questions regarding legal certainty.”
Mr Namazli said the threat of sudden administrative blocking would likely force journalists to be overly cautious when reporting on sensitive public-interest issues.
“This could lead to self-censorship, particularly when reporting on corruption allegations, state budget spending, and human rights abuses,” he added.
He also noted that the law would affect ordinary social media users, who might hesitate to express critical opinions online for fear of legal repercussions.
Critics have expressed particular concern over the shift in power from courts to administrative bodies.
“The initial assessment of whether content is illegal will be made by an administrative body rather than an independent court,” Mr Namazli said, adding that this undermines the principle of equal representation.
He warned that blocking an entire website over a single disputed article would also deprive the public of access to other, unrelated news.
Azerbaijan began officially blocking independent news websites in 2017 following previous amendments to its telecommunications laws.
In May of that year, a Baku court approved the blocking of several major independent media outlets, including the Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Meydan TV, and Azadliq.
Despite international criticism and a June 2024 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the blockages violated freedom of expression, many of these websites remain inaccessible within Azerbaijan.