Armenia moves to tighten control over surveillance device production

Armenia’s government has proposed legislative changes to tighten state control over the production and sale of surveillance and covert data-gathering equipment, citing risks to national security and citizens’ privacy.

Under draft amendments to the law on operational and investigative activities, the manufacture of devices designed for covert information collection would be permitted only for use by state agencies authorised by law. The proposals also restrict such activities to legal entities and introduce mandatory licensing valid for five years.

The draft envisages a state duty equivalent to 1,500 times the base fee and assigns oversight of production, circulation and licensing to the National Security Service. Detailed licensing procedures and documentation requirements would be set by a separate government decision.

The government said current legislation regulates only the import, export and use of such equipment, leaving production and sale largely unregulated. Rapid technological advances have made surveillance devices cheaper and more accessible, increasing the risk of abuse and criminal use, according to the explanatory note.

Officials warned that uncontrolled production could undermine constitutionally protected rights, including privacy, confidentiality of correspondence and personal data protection, and could allow such devices to fall into the hands of criminal groups or foreign intelligence services.