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Modi faces challenge from activists over surveillance at India youth protest
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Modi faces challenge from activists over surveillance at India youth protest

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Indian activists are challenging the government's use of AI-powered surveillance during a recent youth protest over exam paper leaks.
  • A court case seeks to declare mass surveillance unconstitutional and compel the destruction of collected data.
  • The government defends the surveillance as legal and necessary for public order, while activists argue it violates privacy.

Activists in India are challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the use of artificial intelligence-powered surveillance during a large youth protest against exam paper leaks. A legal battle in the Delhi High Court is set to test federal powers, even after the demonstrations have concluded.

privacy claims at a public gathering were "ironical" and the checks were "absolutely necessary" and "in legitimate state interest."

— Tushar MehtaSolicitor General Tushar Mehta defending the Indian police conduct during a court hearing.

The controversy flared when protesters shared images of a mobile police surveillance van equipped with cameras on a telescopic mast, offering a 360-degree view of the gathering. Student activist Aishe Ghosh has filed a petition asking the court to rule mass surveillance of protesters unconstitutional. She also seeks the destruction of all personal data collected during the demonstration and the establishment of guidelines for the use of surveillance technology.

Ghosh is pursuing the case despite the protest ending after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a rare setback for Modi. The government has since announced a panel to reform the exam system. Activists argue that India lacks laws governing police use of facial recognition technology and that surveillance at the protest site violated existing laws. The government maintains that such measures were legal and served the public interest by ensuring law and order.

We need proportionality even if we are to claim national security risks. Accountability must flow both ways.

— Akash KarmakarAkash Karmakar, a technology law partner, commenting on the need for balance in surveillance measures.

During a court hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the police's actions, calling privacy claims at a public gathering "ironical" and asserting that the surveillance was "absolutely necessary" and in the "legitimate state interest." The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital advocacy group, has also demanded the deletion of biometric data collected at the protest site. Delhi police stated they had not "restricted anyone's freedom through the use of facial recognition technology."

We need proportionality even if we are to claim national security risks. Accountability must flow both ways.

— Akash KarmakarAkash Karmakar, a technology law partner, commenting on the need for balance in surveillance measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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