Armenian Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan has dismissed claims that the planned introduction of a unified IMEI registration and monitoring system is intended to place the public under surveillance.
The comments come after the Armenian government on June 25 approved draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications, which envisage the creation of a nationwide system for registering and monitoring International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) codes. Under the proposed changes, only mobile phones that have been legally imported or properly registered will be able to operate on Armenia’s mobile networks.
The initiative sparked widespread public debate, with some information security experts and members of the public expressing concerns that the system could be used to monitor citizens.
Responding to those concerns, Galyan reiterated that the sole purpose of the reform is to prevent the illegal importation of mobile phones into Armenia.
“A high standard of personal data protection must be ensured in all such cases, and we are currently working on drafting new legislation on the protection of personal data. I believe all of your concerns should be dispelled,” Galyan told reporters.
“We should return to the actual purpose of the draft. Its objective is absolutely not to place anyone under surveillance, but simply to prevent the illegal entry of mobile phones into the Republic of Armenia,” she added.
The government plans to continue consultations on the draft law with industry representatives and members of parliament. If adopted, the IMEI registration system is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2027.
