Police get new app to scan suspect fingerprints on the streets
The Indian government has launched the 'Abhigyan' app, which allows police to scan fingerprints on the street and instantly check them against a national criminal database. While officials claim it improves public safety, legal experts have raised concerns about the potential for overreach regarding random checks on citizens.
Why it matters
The deployment of mobile biometric surveillance tools raises significant questions about the balance between law enforcement efficiency and individual privacy rights.
Police and investigating agencies across the country will soon be equipped with portable fingerprint scanners linked to a national database of 1.3 crore criminal suspects and convicts, letting them stop individuals anywhere, even on the streets, to collect thumb impressions and instantly check for any pending criminal records on their smartphones.
The article presents the government's stated benefits alongside critical legal analysis regarding the scope of the Criminal Procedure Identification Act.
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