CSO Meter 2025 highlights key civil society challenges

PanARMENIAN.Net - The CSO Meter Armenia-2025 report has presented assessments across 11 key areas affecting civil society organizations, highlighting challenges related to the right to privacy, the state’s duty of protection, and digital rights.

In the field of privacy rights, the overall score was 4.8, with a practical implementation score of 3.8, «Factor.am » reports.

The report documents cases of personal data leaks and wiretapping, including a high-profile incident recorded in October 2025. It also notes that police have been granted broad access to public surveillance systems, increasing the risk of unlawful monitoring. Experts and CSOs have raised concerns about the legality of oversight powers exercised by the National Security Service and law enforcement bodies, emphasizing the lack of accountability mechanisms.

The state’s duty of protection was rated at 4.5. A key issue identified is the insufficient protection of CSOs working in sensitive areas, particularly those focused on LGBTQ+ rights and environmental issues. The report also stresses that CSOs still face limitations in representing public interest cases in courts. It further notes instances where officials and politicians have targeted activists through public statements, while mining companies have continued to file lawsuits against them.

In the area of digital rights, the score was 4.4, down from 4.5 the previous year. Although new laws on cybersecurity and public information have been adopted, CSOs and activists have continued to face spyware, phishing, and DDoS attacks. The report states that while legislative development in cybersecurity could improve the situation, separate regulatory mechanisms for artificial intelligence have not yet been introduced.

It is also noted that social media platforms operate freely in Armenia, and international tech companies cooperate with state bodies in combating cybercrime. At the same time, clear state protection mechanisms in cases of rights violations on social platforms remain underdeveloped.

The report was prepared within the framework of the CSO Meter in Action program, with the participation of the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Foundation and partner organizations.