Maharashtra to set up AI expert committee after Vidhan Bhavan facial recognition row
On Tuesday, June 30, the Maharashtra government announced it will constitute an expert committee within 30 days to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The announcement was made at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, amid objections raised by opposition legislators over a facial recognition system installed in the legislative complex without their consent.
Replying to a calling attention motion on the misuse of AI-enabled devices, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the creation of the specialist committee. The panel is expected to submit its report in four to six months. Its recommendations will be forwarded to the central government to help frame a national AI policy.
During the discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray questioned how the facial recognition system was set up without the consent of MLAs, ministers, and former legislators. Thackeray demanded details on where the facial recognition data is stored, which company is handling it, and what privacy safeguards are in place.
Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh pointed out that legislators had never undergone iris scanning or biometric registration inside the legislature, raising wider privacy concerns about how the database was built. Ruling party legislators Sidharth Shirole, Chetan Tupe, and Namita Mundala also demanded that the government establish a clear framework for AI use.
Addressing these concerns, Kadam stated that the facial recognition system falls under the jurisdiction of the Speaker of the Legislature Secretariat rather than the state government. He noted that the system appeared to use existing photographs of legislators. Kadam added that the police would conduct an investigation if the Speaker orders an inquiry.
The minister also announced that security personnel at sensitive government establishments will be trained to detect and deal with unauthorized AI-enabled surveillance devices. While the state will frame SOPs, Kadam reiterated that the final legal framework governing AI is expected to be enacted by the Central government.
