Volume 6 | Issue 3

Journal Title: National Journal for Legal Research and Innovative Ideas

ISSN(O):2582-8665

Frequency : Quarterly

Volume : 6

Issue : 3

Period : April- June 2026

1. AI and Telecom Surveillance: National Security vs Privacy Debate — A Critical Analysis

By-Shishir Kant Singh, LLM Candidate, Amity University, Noida

•Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into telecommunication surveillance has fundamentally transformed the mechanisms through which states ensure national security. AI-driven systems enable real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and mass data processing, allowing governments to detect and respond to potential threats with unprecedented efficiency. However, these technological advancements have simultaneously intensified concerns regarding privacy, civil liberties, and the potential misuse of surveillance powers. This paper critically examines the intersection of AI-based telecom surveillance and the constitutional right to privacy in India. It analyses the evolving legal framework, including the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, highlighting their limitations in addressing modern surveillance challenges. Special emphasis is placed on the landmark judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which recognized privacy as a fundamental right and established the proportionality test as a standard for evaluating state action.

To have the access to full paper - CLICK HERE