Israel's alleged hacking of Tehran's street cameras for assassinations highlights a grave vulnerability in India's extensive, often insecure CCTV networks. With AI amplifying risks, these systems, including those with Chinese components, could be weaponised by foreign intelligence agencies, posing a significant threat to national security and critical infrastructure.
It is difficult to miss the sense of awe with which most news reports describe how Israel’s intelligence agencies hacked into Tehran’s street cameras and used the data to assassinate Iran’s top leadership. It felt like one was reading a tech espionage thriller or a Mission Impossible script.
However, the real feeling — especially in India — should be unease or even alarm for three reasons. First, Indian cities are among the most densely surveilled in the world, along with China. Second, many of our extensive CCTV networks were put in place about a decade or so ago and have negligible security features. They will most likely fail to keep hackers and foreign intelligence agencies at bay.
However, the real feeling — especially in India — should be unease or even alarm for three reasons. First, Indian cities are among the most densely surveilled in the world, along with China. Second, many of our extensive CCTV networks were put in place about a decade or so ago and have negligible security features. They will most likely fail to keep hackers and foreign intelligence agencies at bay.