What is the issue?
- The implementation of National Automated Facial Recognition System has raised concerns regarding the inadequate safeguards.
What is National Automated Facial Recognition System (NAFRS)?
- It is a biometric technology that uses distinctive features of the face to identify and distinguish an individual.
- It works primarily by capturing the face & its features through camera and algorithms are used to reconstruct the faceprint
- The system compares the faceprint generated with a large existing database of faceprints for identification or verification
Was AFRS used in India Earlier?
- In August 2018, Telangana police launched their own facial recognition facility.
- Ministry of Civil Aviation’s “DigiYatra” has used the facial recognition system, on a trial basis in Hyderabad airport
- NCRB’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) uses automated facial recognition
How is it useful?
- To identify criminals, missing people, and unidentified dead bodies as used in CCTNS
- It will prevent the use of fake citizen IDs by fraudsters, infiltration of terrorists, illegal immigrants,etc.
- It is easier and automatic and doesn’t need huge manpower
- Use of NAFRS eases the checking procedural delays in airports
What are the implications of using NAFRS?
- Mass surveillance – Automated face recognition might lead to a police state
For instance, China uses automated face recognition system for surveillance of Uighur Muslims in Xingiang province
- Accuracy - The accuracy of facial recognition is around 70% with the a possibility of producing false positives
- Right to privacy – this system violates the privacy of individuals which is a fundamental right as envisaged in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (2017)
- Storage of data - Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) is still pending and absence of clear guidelines compromises data security
- Impact on civil liberties – The technology dis-incentivises independent journalism, right to assemble peaceably without arms etc.
How can the issues be addressed?
- Proper data protection framework must be in place before implementing the Automated Facial Recognition System
- NAFRS needs statutory backing for legitimacy
- Since police and law and order are state subjects, indepth analysis of the system by states is needed before implementation
Source: The Hindu
