Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly is set to introduce artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance cameras to monitor the attendance, participation, and behaviour of MLAs during sessions. The system, which will first be implemented as a pilot during the ongoing monsoon session, is expected to be fully operational by the upcoming winter session.
The AI camera surveillance is being introduced to improve internal tracking mechanisms within the Assembly. Initially, the technology will be tested as a pilot project during the current monsoon session. A full-scale rollout is scheduled for the winter session. The AI system is not limited to security purposes. It is designed to collect data on multiple aspects of MLA performance, including session attendance, time spent inside the house, subjects raised, and participation in debates.
These AI cameras will use facial recognition technology to identify MLAs from a pre-fed database. The system will include detailed profiles of each MLA, comprising their name, party affiliation, constituency, gender, date of birth, photograph, and other identifiers. Once activated, the system will track when an MLA enters or exits the premises and correlate their presence with their contributions during the session. This data will help analyse not just presence, but the nature and frequency of their participation.
The AI system will also carry out topic-based content analysis of speeches. It will record how many topics each MLA discusses and categorise the subject matter of their contributions. This could potentially aid in performance review mechanisms and procedural transparency. Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana said the technology is aimed at improving transparency, not surveillance. “This isn’t about monitoring individuals but ensuring accountability. MLAs already work under public scrutiny,” he noted.
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