Interior Ministry’s use of facial recognition cameras amid protests sparks concerns, GYLA

The Chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), Nona Kurdovanidze, on Wednesday raised serious concerns over the government’s use of facial recognition cameras amid ongoing pro-European protests, calling it a gross violation of personal privacy.

Speaking at a special briefing, Kurdovanidze alleged that the technology was being used to intimidate protesters amid allies against the Government’s decision last year to “temporarily halt EU integration until 2028”, and exert control over civil demonstrations.

Georgia has been witnessing continuous pro-European protests for the past 105 days. Many participants have been fined 5,000 GEL for blocking roads, with the primary evidence against them being footage captured by facial recognition cameras. Kurdovanidze argued that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was deliberately using this technology to deter participation in protests.

“The Ministry continues to use facial recognition cameras against protesters in criminal cases. This is particularly evident in cases related to roadblocks, where the only evidence often consists of photos from these cameras. Courts frequently accept this evidence without scrutinizing whether the identification was conducted lawfully or whether those involved had the necessary legal access to personal data,” Kurdovanidze said.

GYLA also revealed that the Ministry appeared to be conducting live surveillance of specific individuals.

Citing footage submitted as evidence in Tbilisi City Court, the organization reported that cameras were seen tracking the movements of a protester in real time along central Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The video allegedly showed a camera zooming in on a protester’s document, making the text legible. That, GYLA claims, indicated that the cameras were being manually operated to obtain personal information unrelated to legal proceedings.

“The ability to zoom in on protesters’ documents raises serious concerns about the government’s intent,” Kurdovanidze warned. “It suggests that surveillance extends beyond identifying individuals to collecting potentially sensitive information without legal justification.”

GYLA has urged the Personal Data Protection Service to investigate the use of facial recognition cameras and their compliance with data protection laws. The organization has also cited rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, which consider the use of such surveillance technology an infringement on freedom of expression and privacy.

The organization alleged the Ministry may have illegally obtained and processed personal information without appropriate legal grounds and called for a thorough examination of whether necessary impact assessments and security measures had been implemented in accordance with Georgian law.