The Human Rights and Civil Integration, the Defense and Security, and the Legal Issues Committees, at the joint sitting, heard the Activity Report for 2024 of the Personal Data Protection Service, introduced by the Head of Service, Lela Janashvili.

As per the reporter, in line with a new law on personal data protection adopted in 2023, the activity of the Service fully complies with the European database general regulations.

The updated legal norms enable the Service to ensure the scheduled and out-of-schedule inspections in public and private sectors, and scrutinize the activities of the law enforcement bodies pertaining to personal data protection and respective breaches.

“Within the civic applications during the reporting period and the scheduled inspections, hundreds of cases have been studied, pertaining to the patients’ rights, infants, powers and duties of the parties in the disciplinary proceedings, and protection of the data of the parties, as well as the legality of processing of personal data of the tax liable entities, state beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, including children”, - she elucidated.

According to her, the Service has issued specific recommendations and assignments for the individuals involved.

The reporter reviewed the enhanced statistical data pertaining to the application to the Service, highlighting that the public awareness campaigns have led to an annual surge in the number of applications and claims submitted by citizens.

She highlighted a significant concern, namely that approximately 600 individuals contacted the Service during the reporting period by submitting applications and notices. These individuals informed the Service about the unauthorised commercial short messages being sent to their personal phone numbers without their explicit consent.

“The exceptional diligence demonstrated by the Service officers led to the imposition of administrative liability on 165 individuals, the issuance of warnings to 11 persons, and the imposition of penalties on 154 individuals. The total amount of penalties imposed amounted to 300,000 GEL”, - she reported.

The reporter reviewed various activities of the Service, including the consultations, response to the written correspondence of the citizens, and the meetings of the data protection officers and lawyers with the persons concerned.

After the report, she answered the questions.

The Committees gave a positive assessment of the report.