CSO Meter, which assesses the environment of civil society in the Eastern Partnership countries (including Armenia), has addressed the amendment to the law authorizing the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia to conduct 24/7 remote biometric surveillance and the latest report on the subject by the Armenian Center for Political Rights (ACPR).
According to the publication, the system poses risks to the rights to privacy, freedom of peaceful assembly, and non-discrimination in Armenia. CSO Meter has already assessed the adoption of the law as a negative change in the situation of civil society in Armenia, which will affect its annual score.
It should be recalled that the ACPR had proposed to repeal or postpone the entry into force of the law and submit it in its current version to the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission for their opinion. The publication of the “CSO Meter” states that the application of the law in its current form would pose a risk of institutionalizing mass surveillance, which is incompatible with democratic governance and the rule of law.
