The Scrutiny Focused on Tbilisi
In the heart of Tbilisi, Georgia's capital city, a significant shift in the policing of public dissent has been observed. The use of advanced technology, particularly facial recognition systems, has become a prominent feature in the ongoing protests on Rustaveli Avenue, a central site for demonstrations demanding political change.
The Panter Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, has funded a project related to this issue, although Tigran Petrosyan, a journalist living and working in Tbilisi, is not specified as a participant in the project or associated with the foundation.
Recently, cameras from the Chinese company Dahua, which is banned in the USA as a security risk, have been installed along Rustaveli Avenue. These cameras, every ten meters apart in the park situated between grey Soviet high-rises, can automatically track their targets and enlarge images by 45 times. However, they have demonstrated significant limitations; for instance, they were reportedly insufficient to investigate cases of police violence against journalists on Rustaveli Avenue.
The authorities' surveillance apparatus on Rustaveli Avenue appears part of a broader strategy to control dissent. Protesters have been subjected to arrests and charges, often criticized as politically motivated. The average net salary in Georgia is 1,700 Lari (560 Euro), and a fine of 5,000 Lari (1,500 Euro) is usually imposed for "blocking the streets."
Some protesters have started wearing masks, sunglasses, or carnival costumes to avoid being identified by the state's digital eye. The face recognition technology can identify individuals, their age, and emotions like fear, anger, and confusion.
Civil society groups have described the government’s use of surveillance, combined with repressive legislation, as a method to criminalize and suppress protest activities, restricting freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. This contributes to a climate of intimidation and raises concerns over human rights violations amid the ongoing political crisis in Georgia.
The article was translated from Russian by Tornike Mandaria, who participated in a workshop organised by the Panter Foundation. The park in Tbilisi, the largest city park and featuring a stream, is a testament to the city's rich history and vibrant culture, yet it serves as a backdrop to the ongoing struggle for democratic rights and freedoms.
- The Panter Foundation, a philanthropic organization, is funding a project aimed at addressing cybersecurity and data-and-cloud-computing issues related to the use of facial recognition technology in public protests, where Tigran Petrosyan, a Tbilisi-based journalist, may be involved.
- In the heart of Tbilisi, the ongoing political conflict has led to a shift in policing tactics, including the use of advanced technology like facial recognition systems, war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news becoming key factors in the ongoing public unrest on Rustaveli Avenue.
- Crime-and-justice concerns have arisen as the authorities' surveillance apparatus, including cameras installed by the Chinese company Dahua, has been used to control dissent, with protesters subjected to arrests and fines, and limitations in the system's ability to investigate police violence against journalists on Rustaveli Avenue.
- In an effort to avoid identification by the state's digital eye, some protesters have resorted to wearing masks, sunglasses, or carnival costumes, highlighting the privacy and civil liberty concerns raised by the government’s use of surveillance technology amid the ongoing political crisis in Georgia.
