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Spotlight on Silence: Surveillance State: Armenia’s Biometric Crackdown | Ep 446, Jun 15, 2025

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Groong: Spotlight on Silence, we speak with Rafael Ishkhanyan of the Armenian Center for Political Rights about Armenia’s sweeping new surveillance law. Passed quietly in March 2025, the law grants police 24/7 access to camera networks across public institutions and allows for real-time facial recognition, raising deep concerns about privacy, political targeting, and unchecked state power. We explore what the law says, what it leaves out, and why international silence—despite clear risks to civil liberties—has been so striking.

Spotlight on Silence: Surveillance State: Armenia’s Biometric Crackdown | Ep 446, Jun 15, 2025

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0700

Episode Summary

Hrant Mikaelian - Prospect of Trump Presidency on the South Caucasus, Mirzoyan at NATO, Parade of US Officials in Armenia, MPG Poll Review | Ep 345 - July 14, 2024

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:06:59 +0400

Prospect of Trump Presidency and Effect On The Region

The entire world is talking about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump that occurred on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

There are many questions to ask about this incident, including the apparent failure of the US secret service to adequately protect the former president and current Republican presidential candidate. But for many of those in the region, the question is about what happens next, especially since it seems that the prospect of a Trump presidency is now much higher.

Hrant Mikaelian - Prospect of Trump Presidency on the South Caucasus, Mirzoyan at NATO, Parade of US Officials in Armenia, MPG Poll Review | Ep 345 - July 14, 2024

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:06:59 +0400

Episode Summary

Prospect of Trump Presidency on the Caucasus. Mirzoyan at NATO Summit in DC. Parade of US Officials in Armenia. MPG Poll.

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Artur Papyan, Ruben Muradyan on Armenia’s Draft Law on Mass Surveillance and Cybersecurity Track Record | Ep 344, July 15, 2024

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0400

Is Armenia Becoming a Surveillance State

Draft Law on Ubiquitous Surveillance

Last month a very onerous surveillance law was proposed by Pashinyan’s government, which flew under most radars except the few in the business of security, privacy and and civil rights protections.

Essentially the law would require all but the smallest of businesses to install hi-res cameras to watch over and around the entrance and exits of their premises, and what’s more: to continuously share the video and audio streams with the government.

Artur Papyan, Ruben Muradyan on Armenia’s Draft Law on Mass Surveillance and Cybersecurity Track Record | Ep 344, July 15, 2024

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0400

Episode Summary

Armenia’s Draft Law on Mass Surveillance. USAID-funded Deal with AWS. Government Track Record of Cybersecurity Failures.

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