In the modern era of expanding digitalization, the protection of consumer rights is linked not only to legal issues but also to the quality of digital infrastructure. The protection of personal data, transparent payment mechanisms, and reliable services are the fundamental principles of modern digital platforms.
Modern.az reports that these views were expressed by Samir Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, at a forum held on March 15 – World Consumer Rights Day, on the topic of “Consumers in the Modern Digital World: E-commerce, Digital Services, and Security Issues.”
The Deputy Minister stated that in an environment where e-commerce is rapidly expanding and public services are being migrated to online platforms, the protection of consumer rights is not limited to legal issues alone, but is also directly linked to the quality of digital infrastructure.
“The protection of personal data, transparent payment mechanisms, and the reliability and transparency of services constitute the fundamental principles of digital platforms and are important elements of modern consumer rights.
The work carried out in this direction in Azerbaijan is already confirmed by specific documents and measures. The “Digital Development Concept in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” approved by the relevant decree of Mr. President, defines a strategic framework for the modeling of public services, the expansion of citizens' access to the digital environment, and the development of the digital economy.”
He added that, as a continuation of this document, the “Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development,” covering the years 2022-2028, has also been adopted:
“This plan incorporates long-term strategies for expanding the digitalization process, implementing artificial intelligence, developing an innovation environment, and ensuring cybersecurity.”
According to the Deputy Minister, one of the main directions of the plan is to eliminate fragmentation in public services and to consolidate services intended for citizens, education, and business on a single digital platform:
“Currently, hundreds of digital services are provided through the “myGov” platform. The platform has gained a large user audience in a short period, with 1.3 million new users joining the platform in just one year. As of January this year, the total number of users has reached 2.5 million.
A portion of physical applications made to service centers is now fully implemented in digital form, and many services are accessed by citizens via mobile phones. According to him, behind this dynamic lies not only technological solutions but also a change in management approaches.”
The Deputy Minister also emphasized that public services are no longer structured on the principle of “one document - one institution,” but rather based on citizens' life events. He cited processes related to the birth of a child as an example:
“When a citizen's child is born, the clinic enters the information into the system, and this information is automatically transferred to the Ministry of Justice. The citizen electronically registers the child's name, and the benefit is transferred by the State Social Protection Fund to the card chosen by the citizen. In the next stage, the process of obtaining an identity card is also carried out automatically. Thus, the citizen can resolve the entire process electronically without visiting any institution or collecting documents.”
He added that the action plan also includes the “once-only” principle.
“According to this principle, once a citizen submits the required information to the state system, other state institutions obtain that information from each other, and no additional documents are requested from the citizen. This approach serves to make public services simpler and more accessible, while also positively changing consumers' attitudes towards the state,” S. Mammadov noted.
