Maharashtra Tests Speech-Based AI to Flag Suspected Bangladeshi, Rohingya Migrants

Overview

• The state says the tool is being developed with IIT Bombay for use by law enforcement across Maharashtra.
• The model analyzes accent, tone, and linguistic patterns to flag individuals, and officials say it is meant to support inquiries rather than serve as proof of nationality.
• Recent reports describe the system as still under testing with accuracy around 60 percent, indicating a high risk of error at this stage.
• Civil rights groups and technology experts warn that closely related dialects across West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh could lead to misidentification and raise privacy concerns.
• Alongside the AI plan, the government has indicated land is allotted for detention centres, and BJP leader Kirit Somaiya claims 224,000 allegedly fake birth certificates were canceled and that a special deportation campaign is planned.