Archive · 27 Jul 2026
Delhi Police Use Facial Recognition at Protest
The Delhi Police used facial recognition technology during a student protest to identify people with criminal backgrounds.
They said it helped keep the protest safe.
But student groups and privacy advocates are worried.
They think scanning everyone's face is a privacy issue and might stop people from protesting freely.
There were also injuries on both sides, with about 70 students and 200 police officers hurt.
The police are still investigating who might have caused the violence.
Delhi Police used facial recognition technology to identify over 2,500 people with criminal backgrounds during a student protest.
Student organizations and digital-rights advocates argue that the technology undermines privacy and the right to peaceful assembly.
The protest resulted in nearly 70 injured students and around 200 injured security personnel.
The Delhi Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged conspiracy behind the clashes.
The use of such technology has sparked a debate over surveillance, privacy, and civil liberties.
- Who
- Delhi Police, Student Organizations, Digital-Rights Advocates
- What
- Use of facial recognition technology during a student protest
- When
- July 20
- Where
- Delhi
- Why
- To identify individuals with criminal backgrounds and prevent anti-social elements from entering the protest site
Delhi Police
Student Organizations and Digital-Rights Advocates
Use of Facial Recognition Technology
Delhi Police
The technology helped identify over 2,500 people with criminal backgrounds and prevented anti-social elements from entering the protest site.
Student Organizations and Digital-Rights Advocates
Indiscriminate scanning of protesters undermines privacy and has a chilling effect on the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
- Technology Used
- AI-enabled Facial Recognition System cameras, DP-Drishti, Ikshana surveillance vans, mobile command vehicles
- Number of Identified Individuals
- 2,500
- Injured Students
- 70
- Injured Security Personnel
- 200
- Protest Date
- July 20
