Interior Ministry denied right to carry out hidden surveillance
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From today, the Interior Ministry’s Operative-Technical Department no longer has the right to carry out hidden surveillance or to keep information that identifies communication.
The Department was deprived of this right after President Giorgi Margvelashvili yesterday vetoed amendments to the country's electronic communication bill, which would see this right extend until February 28, 2015.
The obligation to keep identifying information gained through any communication means now had to be carried by electronic telecommunication companies.
Furthermore, the Interior Ministry no longer had ‘key’ or legal direct access to the telecommunication companies’ server infrastructure.
Georgia’s Parliament has one month to decide who will have the right to keep the key.
Georgia’s Parliament passed President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s notes on the country’s surveillance law with 95 votes in favour to one against to extend the deadline from November 1 to December 1 instead of being adopted on February 28, 2015.
UPDATED: 20:57: The Georgian Parliament voted to postpone the adoption of a new law on surveillance for four months. After much debate, lawmakers decided to discuss the final version of the law in February instead of April, after 65 MPs voted in favour while 31 voted against.
Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili has publically announced his disappointment in the delaying of adopting changes to the country’s surveillance law.