In the Context of Technological Development, the Protection of Personal Data in the Activities of Law Enforcement Agencies

Koba Grialashvili

Ph.D.  Student, Eastern European University

kobagrialashvili@gmail.com

 

 

Abstract

Globalization has presented new challenges in the direction of processing of personal data. The scale of its processing has increased significantly. In this regard, it is notable that the volume of data processing by law enforcement agencies is significant, since in order to exercise their powers under the legislation, they have the ability to obtain data from both open and hidden sources and otherwise process it, as for technology, it allows the law enforcement agencies to process personal data on an unprecedented scale. It should be noted that the right to protection of personal data is not recognized as a separate right under the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the Constitution of Georgia, and is included in the protected sphere of the rights to private and family life, personal space, and inviolability of communication. However, the European Union has chosen a different approach. In particular, based on the Treaty of Lisbon, the “Charter of Fundamental Rights” has come into force, where the right to the protection of personal data is considered as a separate right. The latter was due to the risks caused by technological development. Accordingly, processing of the personal data for law enforcement purposes constitutes an intervention in the rights to privacy and the protection of personal data. However, these rights are not absolute.  In order to justify such interference of the named rights, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the right of the relevant person/legal person on the one hand, and the effective functioning of the law enforcement agencies, on the other.

The conference will address challenges that globalization and technological development create for protecting personal data. Especially when law enforcement entities process the data. The approaches of the Council of Europe and the European Union will be discussed in this regard. Additionally, the compliance of Georgian legislation with European regulations will be assessed, the standard by which personal data is protected during the activities of law enforcement agencies. Relevant recommendations will be issued.

Keywords:  Personal Data, Activities of Law Enforcement Agencies, Technological Development

JEL:    K42; D83; L86

DOI: 10.52244/c2025.43

The article is in Georgian.

References

“On ​​the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data,” Council of Europe Convention 28/01/1981.

“On the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties and on the free movement of such data.” Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council. 27/04./2016

“On the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data” Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council. 27/04/2016.

CJEU, C-180/21, Inspektor v. Inspektorata kam Visshia sadeben savet, (2022).

Constitution of Georgia, 24/08/1995.

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 04/11/1950.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia of 26 December 2007 No. 1/3/407 in the case of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association and Georgian Citizen Ekaterine Lomtatidze v. Parliament of Georgia.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia of November 17, 2022 N1/9/1673,1681 in the case Londa Toloraia and the Public Defender against the Parliament of Georgia.

ECtHR, Ben Faiza v. France. (Applications nos.  31446/12) 2018.

ECtHR, Roman Zakharov v. Russia, (Application no. 47143/06).  2015.

ECtHR, S. And Marper v. The United Kingdom (Applications nos. 30562/04 and 30566/04), 2008.

European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. OJ 2012 C 326. 2012.

European Union. (n.d.). [Document name, if applicable; otherwise use “European Union legal text”]. EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012M/TXT

Goshadze, K. The fundamental right to the protection of personal data. World of Lawyers. Tbilisi, 2020.

Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, CoE, 2020.

Guide on Data protection, Case-law of European Convention on Human Rights CoE, 2021.

Handbook of European Data Protection Law. Council of Europe. 2018 edition.

Korkelia, K. Collection of Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. 2019-2023. Personal Data Protection.

Kosta, E., Boehm, F., The EU Law Enforcement Directive (LED): A Commentary. 2024

Law of Georgia “On Police”, 04/10/2013.

Law of Georgia “On the Protection of Personal Data”, 14/06/2023

Parliament of Georgia. (n.d.). [Title of the bill or document]. Parliament of Georgia. https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillReviewContent/222087

Sajfert, J., Quintel, T., Data Protection Directive (EU) 2016/680 for Police and Criminal Justice Authorities, 2017

Start typing to see posts you are looking for.