Regulation of the digital sphere in Uzbekistan moves a step closer to European standards. On 12 May 2025, the Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has proposed a draft regulation on online platforms for public consultations. The draft has also been discussed in a Parliamentary Committee on 7 May 2025, but has not yet reached the formal Parliamentary reading. The draft incorporates some elements similar to EU Digital Services Act and UK Online Safety Act 2023. The full text of the law is available in Uzbek language here.

Is it relevant for your company and business?

The draft is likely to have ramifications for online platforms (including social networks, content-sharing websites and others), website owners, bloggers and other users.

How can the changes affect your business?

Please see below the key proposed obligations in relation to online platforms:

• 15-day user complaint handling, including allowing users to dispute content removal decisions
• Content moderation. Digital platforms would be required to set up effective content moderation systems, including timely review of user complaints and fast-track removal of content considered illegal or misleading. We point out the following key obligations:
  • To take measures against the dissemination of illegal content and to inform the regulator of such measures
  • To have a system for receiving takedown requests from the regulator and 24-hour processing of such requests and to cooperate promptly with law enforcement if user-generated content constitutes a threat to life or security

  Noncompliance runs the risk of gradual sanctions. Where repeated infractions occur, particularly if illegal content remains online or for failing to comply with official orders persists, online platforms may face partial restrictions on user access and up to an outright blockage within the country.

• Cooperation with the regulator. The draft law clarifies procedures for removing false or defamatory information, placing the onus on both platform operators and content creators to ensure that erroneous, harmful or misleading statements are quickly addressed. The following platform obligations are of particular concern:
  • To appoint a representative for communication with authorities
  • To provide daily user statistics and user information upon official request, including in criminal investigations
  • To identify the number of users in Uzbekistan and publish twice-yearly statistics on average monthly user numbers in Uzbekistan. Please note that this may have implications under competition law applicable to digital platforms.
• Online advertising and profiling. The proposed rules could alter the way platforms and website owners advertise, generate income, or interact with local consumer bases. Please note the following platform obligations:
  • Ensure online advertisements are clearly labelled and distinguishable
  • Do not use deceptive interfaces to mislead users into financial actions
  • Retain online advertising data for at least one year
  • Do not allow profiling based on race, political views, biometric or health data

  The changes require bloggers and businesses alike to disclose whether they are collaborating with foreign parties and to label any socio-political material funded by external entities. Influencers and other content creators are expected to pay taxes if they monetize their digital platforms. Bloggers with 10,000 or more subscribers (often referred to as “influencers”) are subject to clearer rules on the generation of advertising revenues and must ensure those revenues are duly taxed. Overall, businesses that rely on user engagement or influencer partnerships should plan for potential updates to contracts and moderation guidelines, making sure that global brand strategies fit Uzbekistan’s new framework.

What actions should you take?

We recommend closely following any development related to this proposal and prepare in advance to assess its possible impact on online platform business, including approach to user privacy, content moderation protocols (including takedown requests system).

You may also refer to our previous publications related to online platforms, including “Uzbekistan: Access to online resources to be restricted” and “Uzbekistan adopts procedure for removing unlawful online content.” You may also find useful the similar law adopted in neighboring Kazakhstan: “Kazakhstan adopts the law on online platforms and online advertising.”

Feel free to contact us for further advice on specific details. We are here to assist should you have any questions about these new rules or how best to integrate them into your business strategy.