GYLA Urges Investigation into Harassing Phone Calls Amid Protests Against 'Foreign Agents' Law
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, May 9, 2024
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association issued a statement regarding phone calls targeting individuals involved in protests against the 'Foreign Agents' law, human rights defenders, or their family members. Since May 7, citizens opposing this law have been receiving harassing, cursing, and threatening calls from foreign numbers. Reports on social networks indicate that family members, including minor children, are also being targeted and some individuals have reported receiving death threats during these calls.
GYLA stated that the frequency, systematic nature, and specific targeting of the calls, along with the use of a narrowed circle of recipients identified by a specific characteristic, raise a reasonable suspicion that the data may be processed unlawfully, potentially involving the misuse of databases from relevant state agencies.
The association called on the Personal Data Protection Inspectorate to investigate this matter within its jurisdiction.
"Since May 7, 2024, individuals involved in protests against the Russian law and human rights defenders (or their family members) have been receiving frequent phone calls from both foreign countries and Georgian numbers. When answered, the caller uses hateful and abusive language towards the recipient of the call.
Considering the frequency, systematic nature, and specific targeting of recipients identified by a distinct characteristic, these calls raise a reasonable assumption that personal data may be processed unlawfully, potentially involving the misuse of databases from relevant state agencies.
We urge Personal Data Protection Inspector Lela Janashvili and other responsible individuals involved in this matter to fulfill their legal duties by investigating this event within their jurisdiction and informing the public about the position of the state agency, the Personal Data Protection Service," GYLA stated.
In response, the Personal Data Protection Service issued a statement announcing their investigation into the legality of unknown individuals processing citizens telephone numbers.
"Based on information circulating on social networks, unknown individuals have been contacting citizens using personal phone numbers in recent days. The Personal Data Protection Service will investigate the legality of this processing of citizens' telephone numbers by these unknown persons within our jurisdiction," the statement said.
