A First Look into Users’ Perceptions of Facial Recognition in the Physical World in India

Abstract

Facial recognition technology (FRT) has expanded rapidly across public and semi-public spaces in India, including airports, railway stations, police surveillance systems, gated communities, and commercial establishments. Drawing on available survey data, civil society reports, legal analysis, and secondary literature, this paper offers a first systematic examination of Indian users’ perceptions of FRT deployed in physical environments. Findings indicate a complex, context-dependent picture: substantial public support exists for government and police use of FRT for security and crime control, yet significant concerns persist regarding privacy, accuracy biases (especially affecting women and certain communities), lack of consent and transparency, and the absence of a dedicated regulatory framework. Perceptions are shaped by trust in institutions, perceived utility, demographic factors, and lived experiences of surveillance. The paper highlights tensions between security benefits and rights-based risks, and outlines implications for policy, design, and future empirical research.