As soon as we wake up, we rush to check social networks and messengers, unable to imagine our lives without being updated with news and posts in real-time. Online platforms offer us not only the opportunity to communicate and enjoy prompt news but also to make broad use of them in areas such as education, commerce, and services.
In this regard, bloggers, influencers, and owners of various groups and channels on social networks are actively contributing to spreading information, expressing opinions, and influencing the public in the media space of our country. However, to what extent is their freedom and rights ensured in the digital environment? From this point of view, there are certain problems in the field that are becoming increasingly urgent.
For example, some online platforms restrict users from creating accounts or groups/channels. In some countries, complicated registration or usage rules of social networks prevent citizens from freely conducting their activities. Improperly or vaguely stated rules create inappropriate conditions for users, leaving them unprotected.
The list of problems also includes restrictions that interfere with the process of content moderation and financial profit. There are platforms that deprive users engaged in creative or commercial activities of the opportunity to earn income. Content distribution algorithms may show certain users' content more prominently based on "likes", while other content gets neglected.
A significant concern is that users have difficulty protecting themselves from undesirable content. Ineffective or inaccurate content filtering mechanisms complicate protecting users from uninteresting content, worst of all, making it easy for children and youth to access harmful content.
The above problems demonstrate the necessity for clear rights and guarantees for users, bloggers, influencers, and owners of resources on social networks, specifically:
• complete and reliable information regarding the rules and conditions for creating an account, group, channel and using online platforms;
• producing, obtaining, placing, distributing content in any way not prohibited by law;
• freely expressing opinions and protecting one's rights, legal interests, dignity, and reputation;
• addressing demands (objections) to the owner of the online platform or network moderator;
• earning income from creative, commercial, and other legal activities;
• if inconsistent with their interests and views, refusing products offered by online platforms;
• limiting the display of unwelcome or uninteresting content on online platforms;
• knowing the reasons for any unwarranted restrictions imposed on one's personal account, blog, or resource.
These rights are demanded not just for the sake of freedom but also to strengthen transparency, fairness, and safety in the internet environment.
Indeed, safety. Now, if we pay attention to this aspect. Yes, we said that social networks are an important medium for sharing information and staying informed about events and happenings. However, not only beneficial information but also harmful and illegal information is widely spreading through them, which has recently caused serious concerns.
This includes the prevalence of false news, the difficulty of determining the accuracy or authenticity of information, the existence of information speculation, the occasional gross violation of ethical norms during interpersonal communication, the irreversibility of some actions taken without thought, the impossibility of deleting some inappropriate posts, the use of the internet as a propaganda tool by malicious forces, the theft of personal data, and other technical threats.
Therefore, it is crucial to clearly define not only the rights but also the responsibilities of citizens, especially bloggers, influencers, and owners of groups and channels on social networks.
This is necessary to create a safe and healthy environment in the current digital space. Hence, the following responsibilities must be clearly set:
— To act within the framework of laws.
— To respect the rights and freedoms, dignity, and reputation of individuals. To avoid violating the rights of individuals, as well as engaging in defamation, slander, dissemination of personal data, cyberbullying, and such, in the process of communication and content creation on the internet.
— Not to post or distribute illegal (criminal, extremist, violence-promoting, disinformation, and pornographic) content.
— To delete illegal content if posted or distributed. This is important not just as a legal requirement but also from an ethical responsibility perspective.
Ensuring a balance between freedom and responsibility in the online space provides information and moral hygiene in society. Therefore, improving legislation related to the field is crucial, creating conditions for safe and transparent use of the internet.
Ibrohim SAIDOV,
Information and Mass Communications Agency
Head of Department
