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India's Supreme Court Forms Cybersecurity Committee

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, February 11th 2026 at 19:50 GMT by ThePrint
      Locale: INDIA

New Delhi, February 12th, 2026 - The Supreme Court of India today announced the formation of a dedicated three-judge committee tasked with fortifying the cybersecurity of its increasingly prevalent live-streamed courtroom hearings. This proactive step comes as concerns mount over the growing sophistication of cyber threats, particularly those utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for malicious purposes.

The committee, headed by Justice D.V. Chandrachud and including Justices Bela M. Trivedi and A.S. Bopanna, will operate as an internal cybersecurity task force. Its primary mandate is to develop and implement comprehensive guidelines and technical safeguards to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings in the face of evolving digital threats.

"The Court recognizes that the digitization of judicial processes, while enhancing transparency and accessibility, simultaneously introduces new vulnerabilities," stated a press release issued by the Supreme Court. "Recent incidents, including a confirmed instance of unauthorized access to a live-streamed hearing, have underscored the urgent need for robust security protocols."

The incident referenced in the release, which occurred in late 2025, involved a brief disruption of audio and video during a sensitive constitutional challenge. While quickly contained, the event raised alarm bells within the judicial administration, triggering an immediate internal investigation. Preliminary findings pointed towards a sophisticated, potentially AI-driven, intrusion. Details remain confidential due to ongoing investigations, but sources suggest the attack employed techniques designed to mimic legitimate streaming traffic, making detection significantly harder.

The Court's decision to establish this committee isn't simply reactive; it reflects a broader acknowledgment of the changing threat landscape. Experts predict that AI-powered hacking tools will become increasingly commonplace, enabling malicious actors to automate complex attacks and bypass traditional security measures. These tools can be used for a range of disruptive activities, from simple denial-of-service attacks to more elaborate manipulations of audio and video feeds - potentially even generating deepfakes to misrepresent statements made during proceedings.

"The challenge isn't just about preventing unauthorized access; it's about ensuring the authenticity of the content being broadcast," explains Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading cybersecurity consultant specializing in legal technology. "AI can now create incredibly realistic synthetic media. Imagine the chaos if a fabricated statement, attributed to a judge or witness, were disseminated during a live hearing. The implications for public trust in the judiciary would be devastating."

The committee's scope of work is extensive. They are expected to audit the existing live-streaming infrastructure, identifying weaknesses and recommending upgrades. This includes examining the security of the entire broadcast chain, from the capture of audio and video within the courtroom to the delivery of the stream to public platforms. Key areas of focus will likely include: implementing multi-factor authentication for all authorized personnel; employing advanced encryption protocols; utilizing AI-powered threat detection systems to identify and block malicious activity; and establishing a robust incident response plan.

Furthermore, the committee will delve into protocols for restricting access to hearings. While the Court is committed to maintaining transparency, it's exploring options for tiered access levels, granting broader public access to routine proceedings while restricting sensitive hearings to authorized personnel only - lawyers, parties to the case, and accredited journalists. Biometric authentication and digital rights management technologies are being considered to enforce these access controls.

The Supreme Court's move aligns with a global trend. Courts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are also grappling with similar cybersecurity challenges as they expand the use of digital technologies. The Indian judiciary's proactive approach is being lauded as a potential model for other jurisdictions.

The committee is expected to submit its preliminary recommendations within three months. The Supreme Court has pledged to allocate sufficient resources to implement these recommendations swiftly, ensuring that the integrity and security of judicial proceedings are maintained in the digital age.