Georgia’s Personal Data Protection Service launches probe into ID card confiscation claims

Georgia’s Personal Data Protection Service on Wednesday initiated an inquiry into reports of ID card confiscations before the elections, following media allegations published by Batumelebi. The investigation comes amid claims that the ruling Georgian Dream party has been collecting and processing sensitive personal data on voters.

The Batumelebi report, published on October 15, suggests that the ruling party has been handling personal data from tens of thousands of citizens, allegedly provided by state agencies, including the ministries of justice, health, education, and internal affairs. According to the report, the data was used to categorize individuals based on various criteria, such as employment status, social benefits, and legal records.

The article also highlights the presence of an “influential person” category in the documents, listing individuals assigned to sway undecided or non-supportive voters. These influencers reportedly include state employees, agitators, and figures from public institutions and companies.

In response, the Personal Data Protection Service issued a statement clarifying its role, emphasizing that while it is tasked with overseeing compliance with Georgia’s Personal Data Protection Law, the issue of ID card confiscations falls outside its remit. “Confiscation of identity documents for voters is likely a criminal offense under Georgia’s Criminal Law Code, which means law enforcement agencies must handle the matter,” the service said in a statement.

On October 18, Georgia’s ombudsman called on law enforcement to investigate the alleged confiscations, urging citizens affected by such actions to report their cases via the hotline.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has yet to confirm whether an investigation has been launched.