The illegal eavesdropping campaign - "This Affects You" is starting. On March 6th, a group of non-governmental organizations introduced new slogan for the campaign "This Affects You!" – “This affects you! They are still listening!”
After the 2012 parliamentary elections, the governing coalition has not made any changes regarding this issue. Despite the promises, the law enforcement agencies continue to have unlimited access to telecommunications operators and data communication with the citizens of all types. Mobile operators in the so-called "Black boxes" through the law enforcement agencies have the opportunity to listen to several thousand people at the same time, to identify their whereabouts, read SMS- PCs and personal information through electronically (email, Viber, WhatsApp, BBM and other applications of) communication.
Human rights privacy is a constitutional right, which is guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According to current gaps in Georgian legislation system personal data is not protected and our rights violated permanently- noted the campaign organizers.
"Previously, we thought this issue was due to the fact that there was no political will. Over the past years was established a very bad practice by the Interior Ministry, when they installed so-called “black boxes” in the mobile operators' offices. After the elections, we expected that the government would review this practice and change what they called eavesdropping and surveillance. In this regard, unfortunately we could not see any way forward. If desired, they can listen to the 21 000 people, and no monitoring mechanism and regulation exists which can control them, the legislation is not perfect ", - said the representative of non-governmental organization" Transparency International _ Georgia "Eka Gigauri.
Non-governmental organizations believe that the only way to resolve the issue is to be accepted the law "On Changes and Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code”, which ensures the right to privacy and the protection of existing standards.
"This issue applies to every citizen of Georgia. It refers them problematically and negatively, so we need to overcome this problem, otherwise it will be monitored by one big “eye”. I do not want to live in the country, which has a claim on democracy and in this country, some people be monitored by others. It is not normal and unreal. We need a serious legal and political reforms ", - said the Editor of newspaper" Resonance "Lasha Tugushi.
Within the campaign was presented the video. Also are planned demonstrations, discussions and conferences regarding this issue.
The participant organizations in the campaign are: the "Open Society Georgia", "Transparency International Georgia", "Georgian Young Lawyers Association", "Article 42 of the Constitution", "human rights training and monitoring center", "Center for Development and Democracy", "Foundation Liberal Academy "," national platform "," Institute for Development of Freedom of Information "and others.
Campaign organizers announced that if the government proposes amendments to the readiness of the implementation of applications, then they will work together with the parliament legislation.
The campaign is open to all interested persons and citizens!
