Armenia plans to introduce an IMEI registration system aimed at ensuring the legal circulation of mobile phones, according to a government statement.

The government stressed that registering IMEI numbers has no connection with the collection of personal data or citizen surveillance.

According to the statement, the proposed regulation is intended to:

• reduce the circulation of illegally imported mobile phones;
• ensure fair competition for lawful importers;
• protect consumers from devices with counterfeit or altered IMEI numbers;
• establish a unified database of mobile phones.

"The initiative is not related to collecting citizens' personal data or monitoring individuals. The database will store only the device's 15-digit IMEI number and will not contain any personal information," the statement said.

The government also presented responses to the most common questions and concerns raised during public discussions of the proposal.

Under the proposed regulation, a unified state IMEI database will be established and integrated with the databases of customs authorities, mobile network operators and other government agencies. The system will compare customs records, operator activation data and international registries, allowing only legally imported or properly registered devices to be activated.

The proposal also provides individuals with the option to register the IMEI code of a new mobile phone online.