Uzbekistan tightens oversight of AI with penalties for data misuse

Uzbekistan has introduced administrative penalties for the unlawful processing of personal data using artificial intelligence technologies, following the signing of a new law by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the president signed the law on 21 January, establishing a legal framework for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and defining state oversight mechanisms in this field. The document amends and supplements the Law on Informatization, setting out the general principles for the application of AI technologies and the powers of the authorized government body responsible for regulating the sector.

The law defines artificial intelligence as a set of technological solutions capable of imitating human knowledge and skills, independently learning, and delivering results comparable to human intellectual activity when performing specific tasks.

Under the new legislation, decisions that have legal consequences or affect human rights and freedoms may not be based solely on the conclusions of AI-powered information systems. In such cases, human involvement in decision-making is mandatory.

The law also establishes administrative liability for the unlawful processing of personal data through the use of AI technologies, as well as for the illegal dissemination of such data via mass media, telecommunications networks, or the internet.

Penalties include the confiscation of the tools used to commit the offence and fines ranging from 50 to 100 times the base calculation value, equivalent to between UZS 20.6 million and UZS 41.2 million. The law will enter into force from the date of its official publication.