Status of Policing in India Report 2023

Surveillance and the Question of Privacy

The report is the fifth outcome of our volume Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR). It is an outcome of a collaborative study conducted by Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Common Cause, and the Lal Family Foundation.

The report was released on 31st March 2023 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.The release was followed by a panel discussion on “Rethinking surveillance: How much is too much”. The participants of the panel discussion were Prof. Ruchi Sinha, Associate Professor, Centre for Criminology and Justice, School of Social Work, TISS, Mumbai; Apar Gupta, Executive Director, Internet Freedom Foundation; Prakash Singh, Former DGP, UP, and Assam, and BSF. The discussion was moderated by Anjali Bhardwaj, Co-convenor of, the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI). The keynote speaker for the event was Justice Jasti Chelameswar; Former Judge of, the Supreme Court of India and Former Chief Justice, of Kerala, and Gauhati High courts.

The panel discussion featured eminent spokespersons from different sectors of our country –

The report was based on findings from a survey-based study conducted in 12 Indian States with a total sample of- NCT of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal. The objective of this study was to understand people’s opinion and their experiences with government or non-government surveillance through CCTV cameras, phone tapping, and data collection by government and private companies in India.

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Media Reports:

• Survey finds support for police surveillance to check crime, political dissent, The Telegraph
• Surveillance by State unacceptable unless absolutely necessary: SC ex-judge, Rediff
• Party shouting hoarse did nothing to curb abuse of probe agencies: retired SC Judge, The Indian Express
• Surveillance by Haryana unacceptable unless 'necessary': Former SC Judge, The Tribune
• More People In India Support Surveillance Tech Than Those Critical Of It: Study, Medianama
• Trust in Police least among Muslims, Adivasis, Dalits & poor: Report, The Siasat Daily
• Survey shows public support for some forms of govt surveillance, The Print
• Survey shows public support for some forms of govt surveillance, Press Trust of India
• Survey shows high-level public support for some forms of govt surveillance, Business Standard
• 2023 Report on Policing in India focuses on Surveillance & Question of Privacy | Common Cause & Lokniti / CSDS, South Asia Citizens Web
• 2023 Report on State of Policing in India with focus on Surveillance and Privacy | Common Cause & Lokniti (CSDS), Mainstream Weekly
• Understanding the Status of Policing in India Report 2023 | In Focus podcast, The Hindu