Bill on Consent for Use of Citizens’ Images Submitted for First Reading

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 8 September, party factions of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan discussed a draft law requiring mandatory consent for photographing or filming individuals, as well as for the use of their images, according to press releases from the lower house of parliament and the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

The press service of the Legislative Chamber noted that with the rapid development of information and communication technologies, the right to privacy is sometimes limited due to the lack of effective mechanisms regulating the use of a person’s image.

Under the draft law, photographing and using a person’s image is allowed only with that person’s consent.

If an individual is legally incapacitated, consent must be given by their legal representative. In the case of a deceased person without prior consent, the right to manage their image passes to their heirs.

The document also clarifies the status of children as independent legal subjects: for children under 16, parental or legal representative consent is required for photographing and use of the image, while those aged 16 and older may give consent themselves.

The bill additionally proposes requirements to protect privacy in video surveillance. For example, buildings and facilities with cameras must display a clear notice about filming.

It also specifies cases in which photographing and using images without consent is permitted. After discussion within party factions, the bill will be submitted for its first reading in the Legislative Chamber. In total, the law will go through three readings before being sent to the Senate and then signed by the President.

The Ministry of Justice had previously published a similar draft in February 2020, which drew 48 remarks, many expressing concerns that the law could limit freedom of speech. In March 2025, the Ministry reintroduced the draft, proposing to prohibit photographing citizens without their permission.

Where “use of an image” previously referred to display, processing, and distribution, the current version expands the definition to include storage, publication, and disclosure of images.