The Ministry of Justice has announced a legislative initiative aimed at strengthening the protection of individuals’ image rights by introducing amendments to various laws.
According to the ministry, the right to personal privacy is currently being restricted due to the lack of enforcement mechanisms in image-related regulations. The proposed amendments to the Civil, Labor, and Administrative Liability Codes seek to guarantee individuals' and children’s image rights, enhance government transparency, reinforce freedom of speech and the press, and improve the protection of employees’ image rights in labor relations.
The ministry noted in the project passport that the initiative is based on an instruction from the president or government, although no specific document references are provided.
Key provisions of the draft law
The draft proposes adding Article 100-1 to Uzbekistan’s Civil Code, which would regulate the protection of image rights.
Article 100-1: Protection of image rights
Individuals may only be photographed, filmed, or otherwise depicted (including in visual art or any other format that allows identification) with their explicit consent.
- If a person is legally incapacitated, consent must be provided by their legal representative.
- If a person is deceased, their heirs may give consent, unless the deceased had previously refused.
- For minors under 16, consent must be obtained from their parents or guardians.
The use of an image includes its disclosure, display, distribution, storage, processing, and publication.
Cases where consent is not required
Consent is not required in the following situations:
- Use in the interest of society and the state, including:
- When law enforcement issues a search warrant for the individual.
- When government agencies and institutions use images to carry out their official duties.
- When reporting illegal actions or events posing a threat to public safety, provided the dignity of the individuals involved is not violated.
