Chinese-Origin CCTV Concerns Stall AI-Driven Security in Indian Railways
India's ambitious plan to install AI-powered CCTV cameras across its vast railway network has hit a significant hurdle due to concerns about potential Chinese snooping. The Indian Railways had planned to enhance security by installing 75,000 AI-driven CCTV cameras on trains, covering around 40,000 coaches, 14,000 locomotives, and 6,000 EMUs, at a cost of ₹15,000 crore. However, the discovery of suspected Chinese-origin cameras already installed at some railway stations has raised national security concerns, bringing the project to a standstill.
The issue arose when a discrepancy was found in the invoices for the CCTV cameras supplied to South Western Railway. While the invoice mentioned Taiwan as the country of origin, further scrutiny revealed that it was listed as "Taiwan, China" on the original customs document. This inconsistency raised alarms about potential document tampering, leading to suspicions that the cameras may be of Chinese origin, despite the invoiced claim of them being from Taiwan. The vigilance department has called for an investigation and accountability for the altered or forged documents.
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The Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA) has urged the Railway Board to conduct a thorough audit of the installed cameras, stressing the risk they pose to national security. This comes after ongoing government deliberations about the dangers posed by Chinese-made surveillance equipment. Many of these cameras, installed across government and military sites, are feared to be involved in espionage activities due to China’s intelligence laws, which compel Chinese companies to share data with their government. The Indian government had already issued new safety guidelines earlier this year, mandating that all CCTV cameras undergo security parameter testing before being used in the country.
The situation mirrors concerns raised globally, with countries like South Korea recently removing Chinese-made cameras from military bases and several Western nations cracking down on the use of such equipment. The widespread use of Chinese surveillance devices in India — particularly in sensitive government installations — adds another layer of vulnerability. It is estimated that 80% of surveillance cameras in the country are of Chinese origin, with an even higher percentage in government projects.
The Indian government has already begun weeding out Chinese-made equipment from critical national infrastructure, but the sheer scale of existing installations makes this a challenging task. Experts warn that these cameras, if compromised, could be used for remote surveillance or data theft, turning them into tools of technical intelligence gathering.
Given the geopolitical tensions between India and China, this revelation has caused significant unease. The Indian government is working to safeguard its infrastructure against foreign threats, particularly from adversarial nations like China. Until the audit and security measures are fully in place, the Indian Railways' AI-powered security project remains in limbo, as national security takes precedence over technological advancement.
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