Facial Recognition, Failed Welfare

July 19, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hello,

In India’s digitised welfare push, facial recognition tech is turning food access into a daily battle for mothers, children, and the women tasked with delivering food to them. Read on!

LEARN WITH BOOM

Media Outlets Add False Communal Angle To Dhaka Lynching Incident

A Muslim scrap trader was lynched in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 9, 2025 following a dispute over extortion money. Multiple Indian media outlets including India Today, Republic TV, Wion News and NDTV and social media users falsely identified the victim as Hindu, sparking misinformation about a communal angle to the crime. 

What we found

  • Through local news reports, official statements, and by speaking to the local police, BOOM’s Archis Chowdhury determined the Sohag hailed from Muslim community.

  • As reported by Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, Sohag was a scrap dealer who was attacked by extortionists over a personal dispute. The report does not mention any communal angle to the crime. 

  • Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police refuted the viral claim of Sohag being Hindu, and told BOOM Bangladesh that Sohag was buried, further confirming that his funeral was held according to Islamic rites. 

DECODE

When A Face Scan Decides Who Eats And Who Keeps Their Job

“This time I am not even wearing lipstick, what is it now?” Avni’s voice, laced with frustration, echoed through the cramped, humid room of an Anganwadi centre in Delhi. Eight months pregnant and returning for the third consecutive day, she stared into the lens of an aging Android phone, hoping the app would finally recognise her face and allow her to collect the nutrition packet she desperately needed.

Since July 1, facial recognition technology (FRT) has become mandatory under India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, used to verify beneficiaries before providing them with food and health entitlements. But as Hera Rizwan found out, when the system fails—as it often does—pregnant women and children are turned away, and Anganwadi workers like are pushed to the brink.

Read the full story on how a glitchy app is reshaping India’s welfare delivery and the quiet human cost behind a face scan.

How Radhika Yadav’s Murder Became A Weapon For Online Misinformation

When Radhika Yadav, a 25-year-old state-level tennis player, was allegedly shot dead by her father in Gurugram on July 11, the incident was initially treated by investigators as a case of domestic conflict. 

  • Police have found no evidence linking Radhika Yadav’s murder to any relationship or religious motive. 

  • A year-old music video featuring Radhika and co-actor Inamul Haq is being falsely framed as proof of a communal or romantic link. 

  • Social media praised the murder as “honour” and “protection,” linking it to “reel culture” and conspiracy. 

  • Radhika’s friend refuted all claims of a relationship and highlighted the strict control she lived under by her parents, especially her father.

LAW, JUSTICE ET AL

How A Film On A Real Life Murder Has Divided Opinions On Free Speech

When senior advocate Kapil Sibal watched the film “Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder” at a private screening, he was left shaken. He told the Delhi High Court that it was not just a film, it was "vilification of a community" disguised as cinema. 

The film was set to release in theaters nationwide on July 11 when the Delhi High Court intervened, just 12 hours before showtime. For producer Amit Jani, it meant millions in losses and the threat of piracy. For Mohammed Javed, an alleged accomplice in the murder the film depicts, it was a crucial victory in preventing what he calls "trial by media”. 

What is the film about? Who is objecting to the film and what happens next? Ritika Jain explains. 

EXPLAINED

Air India Crash: 5 Key Takeaways From The Preliminary Report

  • The preliminary report on the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, reveals that both engines lost power shortly after takeoff. 

  • The fuel supply to both engines was mysteriously cut mid-air, triggering confusion in the cockpit. 

  • While one engine showed signs of recovery, the other failed to stabilise. 

  • No safety recommendations have been issued yet as the investigation continues.

'FAKE NEWS’ YOU ALMOST FELL FOR

🔍 An unrelated video from Mexico went viral falsely linking it to the recent case of an Indian woman caught shoplifting in the United States. Read 🔗 Anmol Alphonso’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A selfie of an advocate with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a Lucknow court has gone viral with claims misidentifying him as the judge who was hearing a defamation case against Gandhi. 🔗 Shefali Srivastava & Srijit Das ↗️ found out the truth.

🅱️ RECOMMENDS

This week's recommendation is: 4 ways to use Search to check facts, images and sources online

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