The Use of Personal Data in Georgian Politics

Nino Macharashvili, director of ForSet, carried out a 6-month study observing the pre-election period in Georgia in 2020 and conducted interviews with experts after the elections. The research found that robocalls, mobile texting, and data leaks all played an important role in election tactics. At the same time, traditional methods remained dominant, especially as there is a lack of digital infrastructure across the country. The rising access to this infrastructure, and fears about the use of fake videos, suggest that these tools will continue to grow in importance in the increasingly polarised Georgian politics.