It Affects You Too
Going forward, the campaign aims at protecting personal privacy and acting against illegal phone tapping and surveillance.
“It Affects You Too – Surveillance Continues” – is the new slogan of the campaign.
The Right to Privacy is a constitutional right, which is also guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Due to discrepancies in the Law of Georgia, this right could always be violated. “At present, our personal data is not protected” – stated the organizers of the campaign. The ruling coalition that came to power after the Georgian parliamentary elections of 2012 has not carried out any systematic changes in this direction. Despite promises, the law enforcement agencies still have unlimited access to data from telecommunications operators and to all kinds of communication among citizens. These law enforcement agencies have the opportunity to eavesdrop on a thousand conversations at once, determine their whereabouts, read SMS texts and obtain information on personal electronic correspondence (transmitted, for example, through E-mail, Viber, WhatsApp, BBM and other applications) through so called “Black Boxes” that are installed at cellular communication operators.
Information activities, discussions and conferences will be held within the framework of the campaign. Also, rallies will be held in front of the Parliament with the slogan – “It Affects You Too – Surveillance Continues”. The only way is to adopt a draft law on “Introducing Changes and Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia”, which would ensure the privacy and protection of existing standards.
The organizations participating in the campaign include, but are not limited to, Open Society Georgia Foundation, Transparency International Georgia, Young Lawyers’ Association, Article 42 of the Constitution, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), Foundation Liberal Academy, Georgian National Platform, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, etc.
The organizers of the campaign announced that if the government expresses its readiness to implement the suggested changes, then they will work together with the parliament on refining the legislation.
