19:43, 5 April 2014

Commission for protecting personal data starts its work in Georgia

In Georgia, a commission has been set up for protection of personal data; it will draft the National Strategy for protecting human rights in connection with electronic surveillance and secret investigating actions.

The Georgian State Security and Crisis Management Council has initiated the creation of the commission.

The inter-branch commission comprises officials from Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Ministry of Justice and the General Prosecutor's Office; and its work will be coordinated by the above Council, the "Georgia Online" reports.

The "Echo of the Caucasus" has added that it was decided that the National Strategy will be drafted with the participation of international organizations and the civil society.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that July 5, 2013, several NGOs urged the MIA to destruct the archive of materials about personal life of citizens and introduce a ban on secret surveillance after citizens of Georgia.

On March 14, activists of the "Transparency International-Georgia", "Young Lawyers" and "Institute for Development of Freedom of Information" (IDFI) stated that the promises of the authorities to stop the practice of tabbing citizens were not fulfilled.