The Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Rights issued a clarification regarding the placement of commercial advertising on official government resources. The department emphasized that such practice can mislead citizens and violate the principles of equal conditions for market participants.
The need for this reminder arose after discussions on social networks, where users pointed out the presence of advertisements for goods and services on the websites of state structures and organizations created by them.
The Committee notes that when citizens visit an official government portal, they tend to perceive the presented advertising information as some form of endorsement or recommendation from the state. This, in turn, can lead to the formation of unjustified trust in specific brands or products, placing them in a more advantageous position compared to competitors.
Within its jurisdiction, it was reminded that the procedure for preparing, distributing, and placing advertising materials is regulated by the Law 'On Advertising'. Specifically, according to Article 32 of this law, it is prohibited to place internal advertising in educational institutions, civil self-government bodies, and state bodies. The Committee believes that similar rules should apply to the official websites of state structures.
The main reason for introducing such restrictions is that advertising in government premises creates the impression among visitors that the advertised product or service has received state support or approval. This same effect can occur when such advertising is placed on official online resources.
For this reason, the placement of commercial advertising on government websites is considered undesirable. Exceptions to this rule include social advertising, as well as information directly related to the performance of state functions and the provision of public services. The department strongly urges strict compliance with advertising legislation and warns that appropriate measures will be taken for any identified violations.
Previously, the Competition Development Committee of Uzbekistan approved a deal concerning the purchase of the online classifieds platform OLX by Tapuz Limited, which is part of the TBC Bank group.
The Competition Committee of Uzbekistan reminded state bodies about the requirements for advertising in accordance with national legislation. This reminder followed discussions on social media regarding commercial advertising on the official websites of state structures and organizations established by them.
The Committee emphasized that providing preferential coverage to the goods or services of one company on online resources associated with state bodies can lead to an unjustified competitive advantage over other market participants.
In this matter, the Committee referred to the Law of Uzbekistan 'On Advertising,' which regulates the process of preparing, placing, and distributing advertising materials. Specifically, Article 32 of this law prohibits the placement of internal advertising in buildings of state bodies, local self-government bodies, preschool educational institutions, as well as general secondary and vocational educational institutions.
According to the Committee, placing commercial advertising inside government buildings can create the impression among visitors that the advertised goods or services are reliable or officially approved. A similar effect, the Committee stated, can occur when such advertising is placed on the official websites of state bodies.
This can create a false impression that the advertised product has received approval or recommendation from state institutions, attracting it disproportionately more attention compared to similar products offered by other companies. Based on legal requirements concerning internal advertising, as well as the prohibition against claiming in advertising that a product is approved by state bodies or their officials, the Committee considers the placement of commercial advertising on official state websites inappropriate.
The Committee noted that information presented in state information systems, public services, and social advertising is exempt from this restriction. The Competition Committee urged state bodies and organizations to strictly comply with advertising legislation and warned that legal measures will be applied if violations are found during monitoring.
Uzbekistan is taking significant steps to strengthen the protection of citizens' rights in the field of mobile advertising, as well as to regulate spam calls and SMS broadcasts. Additionally, the rights granted to minors are being expanded.
According to a recently adopted decree, minor citizens who appeal to court to protect their rights are exempt from paying state duty. The introduction of an automatic personal data update system is also planned, which will begin on October 1, 2026. This system will ensure the automatic updating of citizen information—such as surname, first name, patronymic, or date of birth—in all state information systems through interdepartmental electronic interaction channels when changes are made.
The most substantial changes concern the field of mobile communication and come into force on November 1, 2026. From this date, any person, whether physical or legal, offering goods or services via SMS broadcasts, must obtain prior written or electronic consent from the recipient. Companies engaged in mobile advertising and making promotional calls can only operate after their information systems have been registered in the State Register of Personal Data Bases.
Strict time limits have been introduced for distributing advertising messages and calls over telecommunication networks. Advertising activity will be completely prohibited during the evening and night hours, specifically from 18:00 to 09:00. Furthermore, mobile operators are obliged to comply with subscriber requests and fully or partially block incoming advertising calls and SMS. Failure to comply with these new norms will be considered a violation of advertising and personal data legislation, leading to the application of appropriate legal measures.
