Baku: Azerbaijan has introduced penalties for the unauthorized creation or distribution of photo, video, or audio content using artificial intelligence or special software that employs a person's image or voice. These penalties were established under a new decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev, which amends the Criminal Code with Article 148-2.1.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the draft legislation specifies that creating or disseminating AI-generated materials that misrepresent reality without an individual's consent will result in fines ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 manats. Offenders may also face community service between 360 to 480 hours, restricted liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same duration.

Further stipulations in the legislation address more severe offenses. If the AI-generated content is produced by a group of individuals, involves collusion, targets two or more persons, aims to defame or discredit an individual, or affects the victim or their close relatives in relation to their official duties or public responsibilities, the punishment escalates to imprisonment ranging from three to five years.