- 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.