Thread by @internetfreedom

With reports emerging that the Delhi Police is using drones to check for people who are breaking the curfew imposed due to COVID-19 in Delhi, we examine responses we have received in reply to RTI requests filed about the usage of drones in February
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internetfreedom.in/delhi-police-a…

The Delhi Police has been using drones for surveillance of crowds for quite some time now. The first reports emerged in December 2019 when it was reported that anti-CAA protests had been surveilled via drones to keep a close eye on the protesters.
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indiatoday.in/india/story/an…

Subsequently, there were reports that the Delhi Police used drones on crowds during the Republic Day parade in January 2020 to “maintain vigil”
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livemint.com/news/india/fro…

In February there were reports again that the Delhi Police had used drones to “monitor the situation” during the riots in North-East Delhi.
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thewire.in/government/del…

Now reports are emerging that the Delhi Police is using drones to ensure that people do not violate the 21-day curfew imposed by the Government in a bid to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
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timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/5146-hel…

On February 14, 2020, we filed a Right to Information request with the Delhi Police asking about their usage of drones.
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drive.google.com/file/d/1DN5_N9…

In a reply dated March 13, 2020, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the North-East District, Seelampur, Delhi Police confirmed that they have been using drones.
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drive.google.com/file/d/1riMr9X…

Summary of reply:
- Delhi Police is hiring drones from the open market to maintain law & order
- No tender issued
- Drones used during Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections and North-East Delhi riots
- No rules or SOP for drone usage by the police
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Problems that arise are:
1. Hiring drones instead of procuring through a publicly available tender diminishes the transparency of the whole exercise.
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2. There is no information as to how these drones are being used, who is authorized to use them, who has access to the information gathered and how this information is being processed.
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We urge the Delhi Police to make any such guidelines, if they exist, publicly available. If not, we urge them to immediately cease such use.
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This is because even in extraordinary times such as these, we have to ensure that basic fundamental rights, such as privacy, are not the scapegoats which have to be sacrificed for the purported greater good.
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Let’s keep our skies clear and clean of illegal surveillance drones. Become an IFF member today and help us keep illegality grounded!
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Attaching the reply dated March 13, 2020 here. The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the North-East District, Seelampur, Delhi Police confirmed that they have been using drones.

drive.google.com/file/d/1riMr9X…