Supreme Court Grills Delhi Police Over Facial Recognition Use in Protests

Why in news

The Supreme Court examined the proportionality and legality of Delhi Police using Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) during protests, highlighting the tension between public safety and the right to privacy.

Background

On August 18, 2026, the Supreme Court reviewed the use of FRS by Delhi Police during NEET-UG protests. The police reported identifying 2,873 individuals with serious criminal records using the technology.

Facts for Prelims

• S&TFRS (Facial Recognition Systems) use biometric data to identify individuals in real-time or from images.
• FactDelhi Police identified 2,873 individuals with criminal records using FRS during the protests.
• PostTushar Mehta serves as the Solicitor General of India.

For Mains

Q. Critically analyze the challenges posed by the use of Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) by law enforcement agencies in the context of the Right to Privacy.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• Right to Privacy vs. Public Safety
• Lack of a dedicated Data Protection framework
• Potential for mass surveillance and misuse

Keywords: Proportionality · Right to Privacy · Mass Surveillance · Biometric Data · Judicial Review

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