Pashinyan’s government has approved a draft proposal to create a centralized database that would link every mobile phone in Armenia to its owner.
The government says the system is intended to combat the shadow economy, prevent the sale of illegally imported phones, and help reduce phone theft. Under the proposal, every phone would be registered using its IMEI number and connected to its owner’s identity, together with any SIM or eSIM cards used with the device.
If adopted, the database would make it possible to identify who is using a particular phone. It would also allow the database administrator to provide digital services based on the collected data to state and local authorities and, in certain cases, private entities.
The proposal has prompted concerns over privacy, cybersecurity, and the future use of the information. Although the database is being introduced to address illegal phone imports and theft, the law would also create a single system containing the personal and device information of millions of users. Supporters of stronger privacy protections argue that once such a database exists, there is little to prevent its use from expanding beyond its original purpose.
There are also practical concerns. Mobile operators would depend on the centralized database to verify devices, meaning technical failures could disrupt parts of the network. The database would also become an attractive target for hackers because it would contain sensitive information on millions of users.
The government maintains the system will help combat phone theft. Others question how much difference it will make, noting that victims have long been able to provide police with their phones’ IMEI numbers, yet stolen devices are rarely recovered.
