Amnesty criticizes India AI summit over rights concerns
Amnesty warns India AI summit failed to address surveillance, discrimination and deepening civic space crackdown
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A five-day artificial intelligence summit in India’s capital concluded this week with strong emphasis on innovation and technological leadership, but Amnesty International said the gathering failed to address what it described as growing human rights risks linked to AI deployment in the country.
The AI Impact Summit brought together policymakers, technology executives and international delegates to discuss digital sovereignty, innovation and the future of artificial intelligence. Indian officials and global participants highlighted the country’s rapid expansion in digital infrastructure and its ambition to become a leading AI hub.
However, Amnesty International said the summit’s rhetoric diverged sharply from realities on the ground.
Erika Guevara Rosas, the organization’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said the event overlooked what she described as harmful uses of AI systems in India.
She argued that artificial intelligence technologies are being deployed in ways that risk strengthening state surveillance and corporate control, particularly in an environment where civil liberties groups have raised concerns about restrictions on dissent.
Amnesty has previously documented the use of facial recognition systems and automated decision-making tools in India’s public sector, including in policing and welfare distribution.
According to the group, such technologies can threaten privacy rights and may lead to exclusion or discrimination against marginalized communities if not subject to strict oversight and safeguards.
India has expanded digital identification and biometric systems over the past decade as part of broader efforts to modernize governance and improve service delivery. Supporters say these tools enhance efficiency and transparency.
Observers, including Amnesty, argue that inadequate regulation and limited accountability mechanisms could allow misuse, especially in contexts involving mass data collection.
Rosas also said the summit reflected a broader global trend of framing artificial intelligence as a geopolitical race centered on economic growth and national power, rather than on collective action to protect human rights. She warned that engagement with civil society groups and communities most affected by AI systems appeared limited.
International debates over AI regulation have intensified in recent years. While regions such as the European Union have advanced binding legal frameworks governing high-risk AI systems, many global summits have produced voluntary guidelines rather than enforceable rules.
Amnesty called on governments to establish binding safeguards, prohibit technologies deemed incompatible with human rights standards and ensure meaningful public participation in shaping digital policy.
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