It is of utmost importance to maintain high standards of personal data protection as Georgia continues on its path of European integration, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated at the opening ceremony of the 29th Conference of European Data Protection Authorities.

“We take pride in the trust and interest of our international partners as Georgia continues to grow as a regional center for major international events.

It is for the first time, however, that we are hosting such important gathering on personal data protection. This is especially important as later in November Georgia takes over the Chairmanship of Council of Europe, therefore will be leading the efforts of bettering the protection of human rights and freedoms, including the right to privacy and personal data protection, vis-à-vis technological innovation and digitalization of our everyday lives. We live in the era of rapid rise of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Our challenge today still remains to find ways to ensure that innovation and privacy go hand in hand. Our coordinated efforts are crucial for creating an international system, which will be based on shared principles and ethics, to enable us benefit from the power of data through its responsible use.” Mamuka Bakhtadze emphasized.

According to the Prime Minister, the protection of the fundamental rights to privacy in the digital age is a big challenge for any government.
“Georgia has long been a forerunner in the region in terms of democratic transformation, human rights protection and reforms. Our EU aspirations shape resolute domestic agenda for us as we continue intensive and targeted reforms to bring Georgia in line with the EU norms and standards, including in the field of privacy and data protection.

Georgia is making steady progress in implementing the Association Agreement with the EU that involves strengthening national mechanisms and reaching specific benchmarks for harmonized privacy and data protection. We adopted the law on personal data protection in 2011. Since 2013, we have an independent data protection authority – the Personal Data Protection Inspector responsible for supervising the implementation of data protection legislation. The EU and international donors are supporting institutions and mechanisms for personal data protection in Georgia as part of their human rights program.

Our Government is fully committed to encouraging this process. As you might be informed, Georgia was one of the pioneers in the introduction of Blockchain technologies in the Public Sector, which itself is a clear example how innovation driven we are, but meanwhile we still lay utmost importance on security and privacy,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to Mamuka Bakhtadze, through the efforts of the Office of the Personal Data Protection Inspector, a wide range of instructional and legislative reforms had been carried out in better protection of personal data.

The Prime Minister also singled out the priority importance of the implementation of the Association Agreement, and stated that this goal is served by the EU Integration Roadmap developed by the Government of Georgia.

“The Roadmap will help Georgia plan and implement steps beyond the Association Agreement, including those in privacy and data protection. We understand that it is of utmost importance to maintain high standards of personal data protection as Georgia continues on its path of European integration. We promised ourselves to be a role model for transformation in the region and we will do our best to deliver on our promise. However, this progress would not have been possible without the support of many partner states and our friends in the European institutions. I would like to thank you very much for your advice and assistance throughout these years,” the Prime Minister addressed the conference’s participants.

The events mark the first time Georgia is hosting a top-level international personal data protection forum.

The Spring Conference of the Data Protection Authorities is designed to discuss global personal data protection challenges, the new European standard, and the importance of children’s personal data protection.

Prime Minister’s Press Office