Abstract

The article investigates the role of digital surveillance in the prevention of inchoate crimes in India, through an analysis of the legal, ethical and technological frameworks involved. It delves into the meaning of inchoate crimes in law, and explains how they result in serious consequences when executed and remain important to prosecute. It further discusses digital surveillance technologies, legislative and ethical issues and case studies on the efficacy and limitations of digital surveillance in preventing crime. It moves on to give examples showing the balance between improved public safety and the protection of individual privacy rights in India, the important judgments in this regard by the Supreme Court and international perspectives. It explains how updated legislation, ethical guidelines and emerging technologies can help to combat inchoate crimes and maintain India’s democratic values and the individual freedoms of its citizens in the rapidly growing and ever-changing digital landscape.

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