How the algorithm is being targeted

On July 23, journalist Ila Kazmi posted a reel in which one could see a Delhi Police van at Jantar Mantar using facial recognition technology to match protesters’ faces in real time. By the next day, the reel was unavailable in India, and on September 9, her Instagram account was withheld. Instagram said that it was complying “with a legal request”.

On October 9, the Delhi High Court in Ila Kazmi vs Union of India asked the Central government, Delhi Police, and Meta to produce the orders behind both blocks. The Indian Express had reported that at least 25 people the police had allegedly placed as being at the protest were actually in jail at that time. In essence, a tool proven to err was implemented in a highly sensitive situation, and a video informing the public about the tool had been blocked.

This is the condition of India’s present digital public square.