India news: Activists decry AI surveillance at CJP protests

Activists in India have challenged Narendra Modi’s government over the use of AI-powered surveillance during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest. 

The controversy erupted when protesters and media reports showed a police surveillance van equipped with cameras on a telescopic mast providing a 360-degree view of the gathering.

Student activist Aishe Ghosh has asked the Delhi High Court to declare mass surveillance of protesters ​unconstitutional.

She also wants the court to order the destruction of all personal data collected during the CJP demonstration.

India has no law governing the use of facial recognition technology by police and surveillance ​at the main protest site in New Delhi was a breach of the law, activists say.

During the case’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the Indian police conduct, saying privacy claims at a public gathering were “ironical” and the checks were “absolutely necessary” and “in legitimate state interest.”