Thread by @internetfreedom

As part of IFF’s RTI work on facial recognition projects in India here is a thread of responses we have received on the use of facial recognition for voter verification projects in Telangana. #facialrecognition #projectpanoptic
(1/19)

Read more here:
internetfreedom.in/facial-recogni…

On 24.1.2020, IFF filed RTI requests with the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) and Telangana State Technology Services (TSTS) pursuant to the use of Facial Recognition Technology for voter verification in the urban local body elections in Kompally on 22.1.2020.
(2/19)

We asked them the following questions:

1. What is the legislation under which the authorities are using FRT?
2. Was there a standard operating procedure for the pilot project?
(3/19)

3. What were the results of the pilot projects by TSTS including error rate and bugs reported?

4. What is the total expenditure on the pilot project?
(4/19)

On 5.2.2020, IFF filed additional RTI requests with TSEC and TSTS in which we asked for the project report and questioned the accuracy of the technology. We also asked whether any future use of the technology was planned.
(5/19)

We’ve received multiple replies from both these authorities. In a reply dated 18.2.2020, TSEC states that it is authorised by Article 243-ZA of the Constitution of India to use FRT. They also sent a copy of the letter which details the SOP of the project.
(6/19)

Article 243 ZA of the Constitution states that the State Election Commission is in charge of all matters related to the conduct of elections to Municipalities. This, however, is not a sufficient basis for FRT use for voter verification.
(7/19)

Such FRT projects are being implemented in India in a legal vacuum. This violates the decision in Puttaswamy vs UOI which states that certain standards have to be met in order to justify intrusion by the State into the right to privacy.
(8/19)

These standards are:
✅ legality (existence of a law)
✅ legitimate goal/state aim
✅ proportionality between the objects and the means adopted to achieve them
✅ procedural guarantees to check against the abuse of state interference
(9/19)

FRT is a highly invasive and dangerous technology which should not be used without proper dialogue as to its consequences. This is because it could lead to exclusion and bias if not implemented properly.
(10/19)

Read IFF’s blog on the matter
internetfreedom.in/problems-with-…

According to the SOP, TSTS sent its officials to the selected polling stations in Kompally to assist in implementing the pilot project. Identification and authentication was carried out through a mobile app which contained the technology.
(11/19)

TSTS ensured that all data will be deleted and will not be used for any other purpose.
(12/19)

The total expenditure incurred was Rs. 10,200 per polling station. The pilot project was carried out in 10 polling stations. Thus, the total expenditure is Rs. 1,02,000, i.e., one lakh and two thousand rupees.
(13/19)

In a reply dated 27.02.2020, the TSEC says that no decision has been taken about the future use of FRT. Also included was a letter from TSTS dated 4.2.2020 which provides the result of the project including the accuracy rates of the FRT. The average accuracy rate was 78%
(14/19)

A 78% accuracy rate is not satisfactory. This is because exclusion as a result of non-verification would lead to a loss of rights. In this case, the right to vote.
(15/19)

It was also stated in the letter that low results in some polling stations were due to bad lighting and network issues. It was also stated that all the data including the photos were deleted from the servers.
(16/19)

In a reply dated 11.3.2020, the TSTS provided information about their previous use of FRT for authentication of pensioners. The accuracy rate was 94% and no bugs were reported. The FRT use in Telangana is illegal.
(17/19)

IFF has called for a 3 year moratorium on such use by central and state governments.
(18/19)

In the meantime, we suggest a comprehensive public consultation on the use of such technologies informed by international debate on the topic, which can balance technological advancement with people’s civil liberties.
#projectpanoptic
(19/19)

internetfreedom.in/lessons-from-t…

Attaching scanned copies of the RTI responses received.

Accuracy rate of the pilot project:
drive.google.com/file/d/1jq0WHJ…

Information on the previous project where FRT was used to verify the identity of pensioners:
drive.google.com/file/d/1_pb8lE…

Read our blogpost on how Telangana is illegally using Facial Recognition Technology for voter verification:

internetfreedom.in/the-telangana-…