MP Waje warns against potential threat associated with AI-based CCTV in Nashik during Kumbh Mela

Nashik: Lok Sabha MP Rajabhau Waje warned in the Lok Sabha last week about the potential serious cybersecurity threats linked to the AI-based CCTV and traffic surveillance system being set up in Nashik ahead of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.Raising the issue, Waje said that while the state-of-the-art system is intended to enhance security, any inherent cyber vulnerabilities can turn it into a threat to national security.He said the proposed system uses facial recognition, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), AI-based analytics, and a centralised Command and Control Center to monitor the movements of pilgrims and residents within the city. "The visitors at the global-scale religious congregation like the Kumbh Mela are pilgrims, saints, foreign dignitaries and VIPs. Any unauthorised access or a cyberattack could just pose a grave risk of the sensitive information — such as real-time crowd movements, security deployments and VVIP routes — falling in the wrong hands," he said.Waje urged govt to conduct a comprehensive, national-level cybersecurity audit of the entire surveillance infrastructure, with inspections through the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).He also called for ensuring the data servers are securely hosted exclusively within India. "Establishment of a dedicated cyber-monitoring mechanism for the Kumbh Mela under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, will ensure safety of all," said Waje.