Tbilisi: The Georgian Young Lawyer Association have asked the office of personal data protection services to investigate installation of facial recognition cameras. The move has been termed as attempt to violate fundamental right to privacy of citizens.
As per the agency this practice should be halted as soon as possible otherwise the fundamental rights of citizens will be at risk. The NGO GYLA has issued a statement in this regard on February 10, 2025.
As per the statement, GYLA underlined, “The use of many measure for facial recognition can be biggest challenges to data protection, freedom of expression, and the right to assembly.
At the same time the organization underscored the risks of mass surveillance of common man life by using the unethical methods by the members of law enforcement agencies.
The authorities have recently placed an order to install camera in the city. The request was made on basis that large number of security camera were damaged in last year protest foreign agents’ law as well as against the decision of Government to halt EU accession process.
The statement further noted that the suck kind of methods cannot be called normal or legal activities in a democratic country like republic of Georgia. It also said such cameras are not just threat to privacy of citizens but is also a threat to freedom of speech of expression and associations as well.
While demanding immediate investigation the GYLA said, the data protection services must identify whether any data protection impact assessment was conducted by the ministry of internal affairs or not.
The GYLA alleged that many time law enforcement agencies uses only the facial recognition which many time goes wrong and make innocent people victim.
At the same time some reports also alleged that the alleged access of private data by law enforcement agencies members is a aother big problem which can pose threat. GYLA urged agency to protect the privacy of common people of Georgia.
