AI camera project to detect civic issues in Bengaluru stalled over privacy concerns

Bengaluru’s ₹3 cr AI camera plan to spot potholes, garbage & hoardings stalled as GBA officials raised privacy concerns over tracking movements

The Karnataka government’s ambitious plan to deploy artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled cameras on civic body vehicles in Bengaluru has been put on hold, despite its potential to address persistent urban problems. The initiative, estimated at ₹3 crore, aimed to install around 250 cameras on vehicles used by senior officials. These devices were designed to automatically detect potholes, garbage dumps, illegal hoardings, and similar issues, transmitting visuals to an AI system that would generate complaints and alerts for quick redressal. About 30 units had already been delivered ahead of the rollout.

However, the transition from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) halted the project. Senior officials expressed strong reservations about mounting cameras on their vehicles, citing concerns that their movements could be tracked. This raised serious privacy issues, leading to opposition from within the administration.

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GBA Chief Commissioner clarified that while civic problems remain a priority, safeguarding the privacy of officials is equally non-negotiable. As a result, the rollout has been suspended until further clarity is achieved.

The situation underscores the irony of a promising technological solution being shelved not due to technical shortcomings but because of privacy fears. With Bengaluru continuing to grapple with potholes, waste management challenges, and illegal hoardings, the suspension of this AI-based initiative highlights the tension between innovation and privacy in governance. For now, the city’s civic issues remain unresolved as the project awaits reconsideration.

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