Armenian Ombudsperson considers widespread violations of privacy  rights unacceptable - statement

ArmInfo.  The RA Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, considers the widespread violations of the rights to privacy and personal data protection, as well as the lack of sufficient measures to prevent them, unacceptable, as noted in the Ombudsperson's statement.

Manasyan points out that these rights are violated on a daily basis,  but they are especially widespread in cases that generate public  outcry. Just a few weeks ago, a case that sparked public outcry,  prompted the Human Rights Defender to publicly express concern about  the growing number of violations of these rights, noting that these  cases often involve the unlawful acquisition and/or unlawful  dissemination of personal data or information related to private  life. Anahit Manasyan emphasizes that collecting personal data in  violation of legal procedures or disseminating personal data in  violation of legal procedures not only contradicts the Constitution  and international obligations but also constitutes a violation of  several fundamental human rights. Such actions must entail liability  as established by law.

"All entities are involved in the illegal acquisition or illegal  dissemination of personal data, and violations are widespread in the  Republic of Armenia. Additionally, the Human Rights Defender  emphasizes that the state is responsible for developing mechanisms to  prevent violations and, if they occur, for holding individuals  accountable. Therefore, the Human Rights Defender demands that  competent state bodies properly investigate cases of violations of  the right to privacy and the protection of personal data. The Human  Rights Defender also demands that all interested entities, state  bodies, organizations, and citizens strictly adhere to guarantees for  the protection of personal data and the right to privacy, and collect  and disseminate data solely on the grounds and in the manner  prescribed by law," the statement reads.

The document notes that the Human Rights Defender emphasizes that any  issue can be the subject of democratic debate, but this cannot be  done in a manner that contradicts human rights values. The protection  of personal data and respect for privacy are not just legal  guarantees, but values whose observance is also confirmed by the  legal culture of the state and society.