The Personal Data Protection Service will cease its operation on March 2, 2026, with all its powers being fully transferred to the State Audit Office, as announced by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili at a briefing today.
The Speaker explained that this change is part of the government’s process to optimise the public administration system and bring it into compliance with the constitutional framework. Papuashvili stated that under the initiative, the Personal Data Protection Service will be abolished on March 2, 2026, and its functions will be fully transferred to the State Audit Office, describing it as an independent constitutional body that benefits from a much higher degree of institutional independence, which fully complies with international standards.
He added that the purpose of the decision is to optimise state resources, simplify structural functions, and ensure a clearer distribution of responsibilities. It is noteworthy that Parliament adopted a legislative package on November 12 under an accelerated procedure, which grants the Government Administration the authority to request information about executive bodies, officials, LEPLs, state enterprises, and N(N)LEs—including data containing tax secrets and special categories of personal data. Shalva Papuashvili also mentioned that the Business Ombudsman's Office will be transferred to the Ministry of Economy from January 1, 2026, and the Anti-Corruption Bureau will also be abolished, with its functions transferred to the State Audit Office.
