Delhi Police has identified more than 2,500 people with criminal backgrounds using a Facial Recognition System (FRS) deployed around the Jantar Mantar protest site in the national capital. The technology was introduced to increase security and prevent anti-social elements from taking advantage of continuous demonstrations.
Police sources confirmed that the FRS was installed at key entry and exit points around Jantar Mantar, one of Delhi’s most prominent protest venues. The system is supposed to find wanted criminals, absconders, habitual offenders, and people listed as “Bad Characters” (BCs) in police records, to avoid inconveniencing the ordinary protesters, they said.
Four Facial Recognition Units installed
The Delhi Police has set up four Facial Recognition System units to cover the main access points to the protest site. The cameras are linked to the Delhi Police database and the officers are monitoring them in real time.
The high-resolution cameras capture face images of people in the area and instantly compare them with records stored in the police database. If the system finds a match with a wanted or absconding suspect, an immediate alert is sent to the concerned police unit for appropriate action.
More than 2,500 Criminals identified
In fact, police sources said that the technology has already identified more than 2,500 people with criminal antecedents since being deployed.
A senior police source told PTI that the system is a very strong deterrent for criminals who take advantage of public protests.
The technology has already helped identify over 2,500 persons with criminal antecedents, the official said. “It’s a strong deterrent to people who might be seeking to take advantage of the protest to create law and order problems,” he said.
Focus on Security
The objective behind the surveillance system is to strengthen security structures and not to monitor peaceful demonstrators, police officials said. Delhi Police will be able to prevent disorder and maintain order in the streets through the identification of people with criminal history or previous serious crimes, they added.
Facial recognition technology is increasingly part of law enforcement agencies’ toolbox of artificial intelligence and digital surveillance to enhance public safety. But privacy, data protection and the balance between security and civil liberties have also been discussed in such technologies.
Despite these arguments, Delhi Police insists that the system is only being used for the identification of known offenders and that peaceful protests are to continue without disturbance.
