Compliance with social-media platform rules is not regulated in Georgia by a separate social-media statute — it is governed by the video-sharing-platform chapter of the broadcasting law, which is built on the transposition of the European model rather than on other foreign frameworks. The platform's own community rules are not a free-floating document: to fulfil the obligations established by law, they must be reflected precisely in those rules. This page explains the framework of obligations on the basis of articles 45-6, 45-7 and 45-8 of the law.
The Platform's Mandatory Mechanisms
Under article 45-6, to fulfil the obligations provided for by the law a video-sharing-platform provider must implement and develop measures and mechanisms: reflect the law's requirements toward users' generated videos, programmes and audiovisual commercial communication in the terms and rules of the service; create a function through which uploaders of videos can declare that a video contains audiovisual commercial communication, in so far as they know or should know of it; create and operate transparent and convenient mechanisms for the user, so that the user can notify or flag to the provider material placed in breach of the law, and also assess that material through the rating existing on the platform.
The platform must also create a functioning system through which it explains to users the consequences of notifications and flags; establish age-verification and parental-control systems toward material that may harm the physical, mental or moral development of minors; develop transparent, easy-to-use and effective procedures for the consideration of users' complaints and the taking of corresponding decisions; and ensure effective measures and instruments in the direction of media literacy, together with raising users' awareness of them.
Beyond the flagging and rating mechanisms the law also regulates the platform's declaratory duties: the terms of the service must be drafted so that the user knows what is restricted, how the notification system operates and what consequences follow. The complaint procedures must be transparent, easy to use and effective — this requirement is aimed precisely at the situations where the author of the material or the injured party contests the platform's decision.
Nor are the media-literacy measures a mere educational gesture: the law regulates their provision as an obligation of the platform, and raising users' awareness is part of the list. A compliance programme is thus not confined to technical functions — it also covers substantive matters.
The Standard of Adequacy
Article 45-7 sets the standard: the measures implemented by the provider must be adequate and proportionate. Their conditions and scope are determined according to the nature of the material placed on the platform — taking into account the presumed harm caused by the placement, the characteristics of the groups to be protected, and the legitimate interests of providers, of uploading users and of society.
The adequacy of the measures is assessed by the commission, including by considering the provider's size, the nature of the service offered and the number of users — the same requirement weighs differently on a small platform and on a service built for millions of users.
Oversight
Article 45-8 provides that oversight of the fulfilment by video-sharing-platform providers of the obligations established by law is exercised by the commission. This means that compliance with the rules is not a purely internal matter — the state watches whether the law's requirements are reflected in the platform's terms and whether the indicated mechanisms operate.
Together these three provisions mean that the platform's operational daily life — the rules, the declaration function, the flagging system, age verification and complaints — consists of legally assessable elements. For a content creator this creates a guarantee: if the platform breaks its own rules or fails to build the mechanisms, the matter is no longer internal discipline but non-fulfilment of obligations established by law. For an uploader, the declaration function is an instrument of demarcating responsibility — a transparent statement about commercial content protects against material being treated as covert communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Platform questions most often concern the content of the rules, proportionality and oversight.
Who writes the platform's rules?
The platform itself, but the law's requirements must necessarily be reflected in those rules — community rules are a legally bounded document.
What is the declaration function?
A function through which an uploader openly declares that a video contains audiovisual commercial communication, in so far as the uploader knows or should know of it.
What do age-verification and parental-control systems cover?
Material that may harm the physical, mental or moral development of minors — toward such material these systems are created.
Are the requirements identical for every platform?
No — the measures must be adequate and proportionate; the commission assesses size, the nature of the service and the number of users.
Who monitors compliance?
The commission — it exercises oversight of the fulfilment of the obligations.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team works with platforms and content creators: we assess whether the law's requirements are reflected in the platform's terms, prepare compliance recommendations and safeguard the effectiveness of complaint procedures.
If the compliance of a platform or the measures applied to content concern you, write to us on Legal.ge — we will assess the situation on the basis of the legislation in force.