One of the most talked about aspects of AI today is Facial Recognition Technologies (FRTs). States and private parties both are trying their best to find new ways to use this tech - even as regulation lags behind. In Episode 05 of Season 02 of the CCG Tech Podcast, Joanne and Nidhi speak to Abhinav Sekhri on the reality of FRT use in India. They delve into the status of FRT in India, how it’s used, what the possible future ramifications it could have and if we are in a place to even have effective policies for regulating FRTs.

Abhinav Sekhri is a lawyer in New Delhi, primarily practicing in criminal Law. He regularly writes about criminal law and procedure in scholarly journals, newspapers and is also founder of a criminal law blog, “The Proof of guilt” which has a very wide circulation especially amongst young law students. 

Resources: 

• “The Proof of guilt” -  http://www.theproofofguilt.blogspot.in/ 
• Matter before Telangana HC : https://internetfreedom.in/telangana-high-court-issues-notice-in-indias-first-legal-challenge-to-the-deployment-of-facial-recognition-technology/ 
• Matter before Madras HC: https://internetfreedom.in/tamil-nadu-frt-challenge/ 
• Telangana/AP state's use of FRT to prevent voter fraud :  https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/telangana-municipal-polls-facial-recognition-app-to-be-used-in-10-polling-booths-on-pilot-basis/ 
• CCTNS which is a centralised database built as a pan-gov measure : https://digitalpolice.gov.in/DigitalPolice/AboutUs 
• Ed Bridges litigation : https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/legal-challenge-ed-bridges-v-south-wales-police/#:~:text=The%20judgment%20means%20the%20police,were%20breached%20as%20a%20result. 

Hosts: Joanne D’Cunha, Nidhi Singh

Editor: Gopika P

Fact Checker: Srija Naskar

This podcast is created by the ⁠Centre for Communication Governance⁠ at NLUD. Reach out for any queries / suggestions at ccgoutreach@nludelhi.ac.in 

(The opinions expressed in the episode are personal to the speaker. The University does not subscribe to the views expressed in the episode and does not take any responsibility for the same.)