Facial Recognition Technology and the Right to Privacy: A Study of Generation Z in India

Abstract

Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) has rapidly evolved into a widely used tool across digital platforms, security systems, and public surveillance infrastructures. Its ability to identify individuals through biometric analysis offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, authentication, and safety. However, the increasing reliance on such technology has raised critical concerns regarding privacy, data protection, and individual autonomy. This study examines the perceptions of Generation Z in India toward facial recognition technology, with particular emphasis on awareness, perceived risks, trust in institutions, and the adequacy of legal frameworks governing its use. The research adopts a quantitative methodology supported by limited qualitative insights, using a structured questionnaire administered to 32 respondents aged between 18 and 24. The findings reveal a complex pattern: while respondents demonstrate high familiarity with FRT and acknowledge its benefits, they simultaneously express concerns about surveillance, misuse of biometric data, and lack of control over personal information. The study also highlights a gap between the constitutional recognition of privacy and its perceived enforcement in practice. It concludes that although FRT holds significant potential, its deployment must be accompanied by robust regulatory mechanisms, transparency, and accountability to ensure that fundamental rights are not compromised.

Introduction

The text examines the rise of facial recognition technology (FRT) and its growing use in India, alongside concerns about privacy, legal protection, and public perception—especially among Generation Z.

Facial recognition is widely used for security, authentication, and surveillance, but it raises serious issues because biometric data is permanent and vulnerable to misuse. Although the Supreme Court of India recognized privacy as a fundamental right in Justice K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, current laws are still struggling to fully regulate emerging technologies like FRT.

The study focuses on how young people (ages 18–24) perceive this technology. Using a survey of 32 respondents and frameworks like the Information Privacy Concern (IUIPC) model and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research finds that most participants are familiar with FRT and use it in daily life, but still have strong concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and lack of control over biometric information.

Respondents show a clear privacy–convenience trade-off: they appreciate the ease and efficiency of FRT but remain worried about misuse of their data. Trust in organizations handling biometric data is generally low, and many feel that existing laws do not adequately protect their privacy rights.

Conclusion

A. Summary The study concludes that facial recognition technology is widely used and accepted among Generation Z, but it raises significant concerns regarding privacy, surveillance, and data misuse. B. Limitations The study is limited by its small sample size and reliance on convenience sampling. It also focuses on a specific age group, which may limit generalizability. C. Practical Implications The findings highlight the need for stronger data protection laws, improved transparency, and increased awareness among users regarding their rights. D. Future Scope Future research can expand the scope by including larger and more diverse samples and examining cross-cultural perspectives.

References

[1] Xukang Wang et al., Beyond Surveillance: Privacy and Ethics in Face Recognition, 7 Frontiers Big Data 1337465 (2024). [2] Zhifang Sun & Zhe Liu, Privacy Challenges in Facial Recognition Systems, Discover Applied Sciences (2025). [3] Privacy-Personalization Trade-off in AI Systems, Computers in Human Behavior (2024). [4] D. Yuvasini et al., AI-Based Surveillance Systems, Scientific Reports (2024). [5] Arathy Raji, Legal Regulation of Facial Recognition in India, SSRN (2023).

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Vedant Anand Sawant. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.