At Jantar Matar, facial recognition ‘spotted’ 25 persons who police say were in jail: Report

Of the 2,873 persons that the facial recognition software identified as allegedly having criminal records among those present during the youth protest at Jantar Mantar, 25 were in jail according to police and court records when they were spotted, The Indian Express reported on Friday.

The police had submitted the data to the Supreme Court on August 17 during the hearing in a case alleging that the police used excessive force against the protesters during the march to Parliament on July 20.

It said that its facial recognition software identified persons at the protest site whose “particulars matched with existing records available in official police databases”, reported the newspaper.

However, the police did not specify if those identified were accused, convicts or only named in criminal cases.

The Indian Express reported that an investigation of the records showed that of the 25 persons, allegedly in jail but present at the protest site, 17 face charges of murder, four of rape and four more of attempt to murder.

In its affidavit, the police had told the court that “no actions are taken solely based upon the result of the facial recognition system”.

After the face is recognised, field verification is done as the person’s details are already in police records, the police said. If it is found during...

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