THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 14 March 2020 (Privacy counts too (Mint))

Privacy counts too (Mint)

Mains Paper 2:Polity
Prelims level:Facial recognition
Mains level: Facial recognition and its implementation challenges

Context:

• Facial recognition can be of constructive use in numerous fields, but it is fallible and must be regulated to guard against its potential misuse

Background:

• During a debate in the Lok Sabha on the recent communal riots in Delhi, Union home minister Amit Shah said that facial recognition software had been used to identify rioters.
• In doing so, he added, voter ID and driver licence databases had been used. This contradicts the Delhi Police’s claim just last month.
• In response to anRTI, it had said that facial records were being compared only with police databases.
• The home minister’s statement, however, points to the use of public databases as well.

Privacy concern:

• While that may aid the identification of culprits, it would also compromise the privacy of citizens.
• The extent to which .........................................................

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Way forward:

• India does not have a regulatory law right now.
• A bill on data protection is pending with lawmakers, though. Clear rules on the use of facial recognition should be incorporated in it.

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  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report on political funding, consider the following statements:
1. As much as 67% of donations to national parties in 2018-19 came from “unknown sources,” an increase from 53% in the previous financial year, said a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
2. Electoral bonds accounted for 78% of the ₹2,512.98-crore income from unknown sources.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer:..................................

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Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the pros and cons of the facial recognition technology?