Yes, ad blockers are legal in Georgia, but their use is constrained by intellectual property and unfair competition laws, particularly under the 2023 amendments to the Georgian Law on Competition. Website operators may challenge circumvention under copyright statutes, while the Georgian National Competition Agency monitors anti-competitive practices involving ad-blocking services.
Key Regulations for Ad Blockers in Georgia
- Copyright Infringement Risks: Circumventing digital ads may violate the Georgian Law on Copyright and Related Rights (2022 revision), as ad content is often protected. Courts have not yet ruled on ad-blocker-specific cases, leaving interpretation to judicial discretion.
- Unfair Competition Provisions: The Law on Competition prohibits practices that distort market fairness. Aggressive ad-blocking tools that disrupt publisher revenue streams could trigger investigations by the Georgian National Competition Agency (GNCA), especially if deployed at scale.
- Contractual Restrictions: Websites may enforce terms-of-service clauses banning ad blockers. Violations could lead to legal action under the Georgian Civil Code, though enforcement remains rare for individual users.
Georgia’s regulatory framework lacks explicit ad-blocker legislation, creating ambiguity. The 2026 draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications may introduce clearer guidelines, particularly concerning net neutrality and user rights. Compliance hinges on avoiding copyright violations and anti-competitive conduct while respecting contractual obligations.