In a recent development, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has put forth a proposal to implement an Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) that will be utilised by the law enforcement agencies across the country. This system could play a pivotal role in crime prevention by assisting in the identification of criminals, missing individuals and unclaimed bodies. The system works through easy documentation, analysis, retrieval and sharing of information among various organisations.
Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS)
Developed as both a mobile and web application, the AFRS will be hosted in NCRB’s data centre based in Delhi. Despite being hosted centrally, it will be accessible to all police stations across the country for use.
The technology operates by juxtaposing a new image of an unidentified individual, typically derived from CCTV footage, with the existing database. This database encompasses photographs and video footage of numerous faces. Through artificial intelligence and ‘neural networks’, the AFRS hunts for matching patterns to identify the person in the image.
Merging AFRS with Existing Databases
Further enhancing the efficacy of the AFRS, NCRB proposes to blend it with numerous pre-existing databases. These include the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS), state-specific database systems, and the Khoya Paya portal.
1. Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS): Managed by the NCRB, CCTNS is a collective national database on crime incidents and suspects. It connects FIR registrations, investigations, and charge sheets from all police stations and senior offices across the country. CCTNS also provides citizen services like passport verification, crime reporting, online tracking of case progress, and grievance reporting against police officials.
2. Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS): ICJS comprises any computer network, system, or architecture that enables justice practitioners and agencies to digitally access and share information across jurisdictional lines.
3. Khoya Paya portal: The Khoya Paya portal is a citizen-based website designed to exchange information on missing and found children. It was developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development alongside the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).
| Database | Function |
|---|---|
| CCTNS | Tracks crime incidents and suspects; provides various citizen services |
| ICJS | Allows digital access to and sharing of information between justice practitioners and agencies across jurisdictional lines |
| Khoya Paya Portal | Exchanges information on missing and found children |
Potential Risks and Concerns with Facial Recognition Technology
Whilst the benefits of AFRS are evident, potential risks cannot be dismissed. Experts in cyber security have expressed their apprehensions regarding the inevitable government misuse of facial recognition technology. Critics argue the highly sophisticated technology could be exploited as a tool of control, thus jeopardising citizens’ privacy and data safety.
India’s current lack of a data protection law leaves its citizens more susceptible to privacy infringements. Therefore, whilst the AFRS offers promise in enhancing law enforcement measures, it’s critical that user privacy and data protection remain at the forefront of its implementation.