Countering disinformation
Legislation and legal regulation for countering disinformation and fake news
Preventing the dissemination of false information in the digital space, protecting the honor and dignity of citizens, public order, and security are important directions of the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Main legal norms:
Article 2022 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan - provides for liability for the dissemination of knowingly false information that defames the honor and dignity of a person or discredits them, as well as false information that poses a threat to public order or security.
Article 139 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes liability for slander, that is, the dissemination of knowingly false information that defames another person.
Article 2446 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan - provides for criminal liability for certain types of knowingly false information dissemination, provided there are conditions established by law, including if an administrative penalty has previously been applied for a similar act.
Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Mass Media" - regulates the rights and obligations of media outlets when disseminating information, including their responsibility for the accuracy of published information.
Important: not every erroneous information or inaccurate report is automatically recognized as a violation. Legal assessment depends on the content of the information, the circumstances of its dissemination, and the presence of legally provided grounds for liability.
Recommendations for users: before disseminating news, verify its source, compare the information with official data, and do not present unconfirmed information as an established fact.
Legal sources:
Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Responsibility - Article 2022 "Dissemination of false information."
Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan () - norms on liability for slander and the dissemination of certain types of false information.
Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Mass Media".