Delhi High Court Reviews Legal Challenge to AI-Enabled Biometric Data Collection

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Two university students have petitioned the Delhi High Court, challenging the constitutionality of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, which enables police to collect and store extensive biometric data using AI systems. The petition cites privacy violations and potential misuse, prompting the court to seek responses from authorities.[AI generated]

Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?

The event describes a legal challenge to the biometric data collection system authorized by the Act, which involves AI systems for biometric identification and data analysis. The challenge is based on the potential for disproportionate and unconstitutional use of sensitive data, privacy violations, and lack of safeguards. Since no actual harm or incident has occurred yet, but there is a credible risk of harm due to the system's design and use, this qualifies as an AI Hazard. It is not an AI Incident because no realized harm has been reported. It is not Complementary Information because the main focus is the legal challenge to the system's constitutionality and potential harms, not an update or response to a prior incident. It is not Unrelated because the event clearly involves AI systems and their use in biometric data collection and storage with potential rights violations.[AI generated]
AI principles
Privacy & data governanceRespect of human rights

Industries
Government, security, and defence

Affected stakeholders
General public

Harm types
Human or fundamental rights

Severity
AI hazard

Business function:
Compliance and justice

AI system task:
Recognition/object detection


Articles about this incident or hazard

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Two Jamia students move court: HC seeks MHA, Delhi Police reply into plea challenging constitutionality of Act permitting biometric data collection

2026-02-25
The Indian Express
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event describes a legal challenge to the biometric data collection system authorized by the Act, which involves AI systems for biometric identification and data analysis. The challenge is based on the potential for disproportionate and unconstitutional use of sensitive data, privacy violations, and lack of safeguards. Since no actual harm or incident has occurred yet, but there is a credible risk of harm due to the system's design and use, this qualifies as an AI Hazard. It is not an AI Incident because no realized harm has been reported. It is not Complementary Information because the main focus is the legal challenge to the system's constitutionality and potential harms, not an update or response to a prior incident. It is not Unrelated because the event clearly involves AI systems and their use in biometric data collection and storage with potential rights violations.
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Delhi High Court issues notice on plea challenging biometric data law

2026-02-25
Asian News International (ANI)
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The biometric data collection and processing likely involve AI systems (e.g., for iris/retina scans and behavioral attribute analysis). The petitioners raise concerns about excessive data collection, privacy violations, and potential misuse, which are plausible harms related to AI system use. However, the article does not describe any actual harm or incident caused by AI systems yet, only a legal challenge to the law enabling such data collection. Hence, it is a credible potential risk (AI Hazard) rather than a realized AI Incident. The event is not merely complementary information or unrelated, as it directly concerns AI-enabled biometric data collection and its legal and rights implications.
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High Court Seeks Response on Disproportionate Biometric Data Collection | Law-Order

2026-02-25
Devdiscourse
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
While biometric data collection and storage often involve AI technologies for identification and analysis, the article does not explicitly state that AI systems are involved or that their use has led to harm or a plausible risk of harm. The petition challenges the legal and privacy implications of data collection but does not describe an AI system malfunction, misuse, or harm. Therefore, this event is best classified as Complementary Information, as it provides context on societal and legal responses related to data practices potentially involving AI, without reporting a specific AI Incident or AI Hazard.