On March 12, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev listened to proposals to strengthen the fight against cybercrime and to enhance the prevention of offenses committed using information technologies.
Today, the number of internet users in Uzbekistan has exceeded 31 million, including 14 million active social media users. At the same time, cases of the internet and social networks being used for illegal purposes are being recorded more frequently. Over the past six years, the number of reports of cybercrimes in the country has increased 48-fold. Last year, 82 percent of fraud cases and 76 percent of thefts were committed in cyberspace. The material damage caused to individuals and legal entities exceeded 2 trillion soums.
The sharp increase in offenses committed using information technologies indicates the need to improve national legislation, strengthen liability for such crimes, and introduce responsibility for new forms of cybercrime.
To increase citizens’ personal responsibility for the use of electronic payment instruments and subscriber numbers registered in their names, it has been proposed to establish administrative and criminal liability for allowing electronic payment instruments, crypto-wallets, SIM cards, and electronic accounts registered in their names to be used in the commission of cybercrimes.
In this regard, it was proposed to introduce administrative liability for legal entities for non-compliance with information and cybersecurity requirements.
An initiative was put forward to legally establish the liability of commercial banks, payment system operators, and payment organizations for material damage caused by cybercrimes resulting from their non-compliance with information and cybersecurity requirements.
The president was briefed on draft laws aimed at countering offenses committed using information technologies and approved the legislative proposals.
