The issue of preventing statements and posts that are outside ethical norms and contrary to our national values on social networks and social media platforms is on the agenda.
Regarding the topic, Medianews.az published a statement from Aydın Khan Abilov, chairman of the New Writers and Artists Public Union, creator of the www.kitabxana.net – Mir Jalal Pashayev National Virtual-Electronic Library portal, presidential scholarship holder, writer-culturologist, who stated that new media, the internet, social networks, and currently artificial intelligence programs have brought great changes to our lives. According to him, these changes, as in real life, have resulted in both positive and negative tendencies rising in the online space: "In January of this year, additions were approved to Azerbaijani legislation, and responsibility for activities on the internet and information-telecommunication networks was increased. Thus, in the online space, it is prohibited to disseminate materials that insult public morality, express open disrespect to society, and are contrary to national and spiritual values, and specific punishments are envisaged for this.
This was necessary. Because there were legal gaps regarding online responsibility, which led to psychological pressure, harassment, insults, and defamation towards people in news websites, social network platforms, messengers, live broadcasts, and videos.
All around the world, especially in Europe, sharp administrative and legal measures are taken against harassment, demeaning of personality, and intentional damage to public and professional reputation on social networks and internet resources, and laws are adjusted to the realities of the new era.
After amendments to legislation in Azerbaijan, it has been observed that serious penalties are implemented for the use of insulting expressions and posts that damage the reputation of individuals and organizations on social networks.
Of course, the Azerbaijani segment of social networks must develop. It must leave behind its previous adolescent phase, mature, and become intellectual. People need to understand that not only physical violence but also psychological, spiritual, cultural, and intellectual information violence is unacceptable. Insulting and using degrading expressions towards each other is inappropriate. Because such behavior is reciprocal, it especially negatively impacts the moral and ethical education of adolescents and young people. If such cases are not prevented, chaos may arise in society.”
Aydın Khan Abilov stated that special attention should also be paid to videos made through artificial intelligence and circulated on social networks and new media: "In such videos, sometimes representatives of the older generation are made objects of ridicule, and a false impression is created that they speak using profanity. Such fabricated content can lead society to moral degradation. Worldwide, artificial intelligence is mainly used in space, science, nanotechnology, and other fields. However, in our country, some use AI programs to "make people speak with profanity." Such videos lower the level of social networks, spoiling the worldview, intellectual, and cultural level of the new generation."
The writer-culturologist emphasized that educational campaigns and propaganda should also be improved as a legal basis so that the Azerbaijani segment of the internet and social networks mature adequately, become more cultured, and the intellectual level in the online space increases.
Naile Gasimova,
Medianews.az