Armenia surveillance bill spurs international concern over privacy rights – JURIST

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Thursday that the Armenian government’s proposed surveillance bill raises significant concerns regarding privacy rights and civil liberties.

HRW cautioned that the mere presence of surveillance systems in public areas can create a chilling effect on fundamental rights, including freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. The rights group added that the incorporation of AI analytics only amplifies these risks. HRW’s Associate Director for Europe and Central Asia Giorgi Gogia stated: “Widespread, indiscriminate video surveillance would inevitably lead to unjustified intrusions on privacy and cannot be defended as a measure necessary to improve public security in a democracy. Mass surveillance in public spaces would have a chilling effect on fundamental civil and political rights.”

HRW urged Armenian authorities to withdraw or suspend the proposed surveillance bill until it meets international human rights standards. The rights group also recommended consulting the Venice Commission for assessment. Armenia is a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention on Human Rights, which require adherence to legality, necessity, and proportionality regarding privacy infringements.

The bill would mandate the installation of video surveillance systems with 24-hour police access throughout Yerevan, the nation’s capital. The legislation aims to amend nine existing laws under the claim of enhancing security in public spaces. The bill would require a diverse range of private entities, including financial institutions and retail businesses, to install CCTV systems that provide continuous monitoring of their premises. These systems must provide 24-hour live video access to police, be capable of recording in color with a minimum resolution of 4 megapixels, utilize external network cameras (IP), and feature night illumination capabilities that can capture footage up to 30 meters away. Additionally, the recorded video must be stored for at least 15 days.

Following the adoption of the bill, entities will be mandated to implement comprehensive video surveillance systems that cover entrances and all sides of their buildings. The bill, which was proposed by the Interior Ministry, received governmental approval in April 2024 and successfully passed its initial parliamentary review in June 2024. A parliamentary vote on the bill is scheduled for the end of the year.

Armenia’s Data Protection Agency has expressed concern that the draft amendments would permit “unlimited and continuous processing of personal data,” resulting in “disproportionate interference” with individuals’ right to privacy. Furthermore, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) criticized the extensive use of video surveillance systems, recommending that such measures be directed towards specific, legitimate aims that address concrete threats to public safety.

EU policy experts have emphasized the need for strict limitations on AI-driven surveillance to protect individual privacy and freedoms. Although the draft amendments do not explicitly address the use of remote biometric identification or algorithmic surveillance technologies, the deputy interior minister indicated an intention to utilize AI tools for analyzing CCTV footage. Countries like China and South Korea have already adopted CCTV and AI-driven surveillance systems, often justifying their use on public safety grounds.