The Personal Data Protection Service announced on 28 November that it has started to look into the story broadcast by pro-government TV Imedi, in which journalist Marika Bakuradze contacted several individuals to question them about the comments that they had posted on Facebook under a particular TV Imedi article.

The Personal Data Protection Service said that its study into the matter is related to how Bakuradze was able to obtain the phone numbers of the individuals in question.

The story, which aired on the Imedi Day show, raised questions amongst the public about the legal and ethical implications of Bakuradze’s actions.

On her part, Bakuradze addressed the concerns in a Facebook post, stating “the anonymity of the respondents was fully protected.”