Russian Surveillance Software Suppresses Georgian Civilians Rights

4 hours ago

Georgia built a face recognition enforcement system using software from a Moscow-based company linked to the FSB, which suppresses protests through fines and bank freezes.
Protesters like Nino and Luka were identified via surveillance cameras, fined heavily, and faced frozen accounts, leading many to stop demonstrating due to fear and financial pressure.
The government escalated repressive laws: from 2023 to 2026, assembly rules tightened, face covering became criminalized, and online criticism was outlawed, eroding constitutional freedoms.
The surveillance software, Polyface, uses automated identification, operator-directed searches, and watchlist alerts, integrated with civil registry data and social media for cross-platform monitoring.
Psychological impact includes paranoia, route changes, and reduced protest participation, with a chilling effect fracturing society and creating moral divides among activists.
Strategic risks involve Russian control over biometric data, potential integrity attacks, and long-term dominance threats to Georgia's national security and European integration path.
Despite ongoing surveillance, hundreds still gather daily on Rustaveli Avenue, but the cost of protest has shifted from monetary fines to the loss of personal freedom.

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