BALANCING AI INNOVATION AND CIVIL LIBERTIES: AN INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

ABSTRACT Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming India’s economic, social, and governance landscapes, bringing both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. While AI-driven technologies promise significant advancements, they also raise serious concerns about the erosion of civil liberties guaranteed under the Indian Constitution. This paper examines how the constitutional framework—particularly the fundamental rights to equality, freedom of expression, and privacy—interacts with AI deployment in India. Drawing on landmark judicial precedents and legislative developments, it highlights the potential risks of algorithmic bias, surveillance, and automated decision-making. It argues that a balanced approach to AI governance is necessary, one that integrates constitutional principles of transparency, accountability, and human dignity. The paper concludes by offering proposals for harmonizing technological innovation with the constitutional mandate to protect civil liberties, ensuring that AI serves as a tool for empowerment and social justice in the world’s largest democracy.