CCTV data for public safety can be double-edged, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Mumbai Railway's CCTV and Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) have aided police in solving cases like tourist harassment and child disappearance.
• Goa plans to install AI-powered cameras at 92 locations with Automatic Number Plate Recognition.
• Delhi's Safe City project, launched in 2018, integrates thousands of cameras into a central police control system.
• NATGRID was officially connected to the National Population Register in 2026, providing access to demographic data.

Detailed Insights:

• The increasing use of AI and algorithm-guided surveillance extends beyond metropolitan cities, raising privacy concerns.
• Delhi's Safe City project deployed approximately 3,500 AI-enabled cameras along with gunshot sensors and smart alert systems in its first phase from October 2025.
• NATGRID aggregates data from various sectors and now includes family-level demographic data of nearly 119 crore residents.
• The IT Rules, 2021 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 aim to protect citizens' data but primarily focus on platforms and providers, not government data systems.
• A 2023 incident involving a hacker exploiting India's CoWIN portal and a 2025 LocalCircles survey revealing that 87% of respondents believed their private details were already exposed highlight vulnerabilities in official digital systems.
• The Supreme Court's ruling in Puttaswamy case mandates that any state restriction on privacy must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.
• Regulations are needed for data collection, retention limits, algorithmic accountability, and independent reviews to balance safety and freedom in surveillance systems.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Facial Recognition System (FRS): A technology that identifies or verifies a person from a digital image or video frame.
• NATGRID: A centralized database that integrates various security agencies' data to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: A law that provides a framework for processing personal data and restricts certain uses.