NEET-UG protests: Delhi Police tells SC that facial recognition tech was used in ‘legitimate state interest’
The Delhi Police informed the Supreme Court that facial recognition technology was used during NEET-UG protests to identify individuals with serious criminal records. The police defended the measure as a legitimate policing tool, denying claims of indiscriminate surveillance or data misuse.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical debate regarding the balance between state security measures and individual privacy rights.
A Delhi Police affidavit in the Supreme Court has acknowledged the use of facial recognition system during the NEET-UG paper leak protests in the national capital, but said the technology was deployed in “legitimate State interest”.
The affidavit does not specifically address the issue of use of pellet guns by the Rapid Action Force on protestors.
The police said force employed was proportionate, reasonable, graded and strictly in accordance with law to control the surging crowds. The police said it would deal with the allegations against police officers before the committee proposed by the Supreme Court to examine “all issues related to the use of force by the police”.
The police maintained that the use of facial recognition system (FRS) constituted a “legitimate, bona fide and proportionate policing measure”.
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