Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Murali Krishna told Express that drones and smart glasses have evolved into major security threats, enabling discreet surveillance, unauthorised data collection and potential physical dangers. Officials said vigilance teams seized 85 drones and 45 spy glasses from January till date as pilgrims increasingly attempted to bring such devices into the hill shrine, posing serious security and privacy risks. TIRUMALA: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has seized 239 drones and 89 spy glasses with cameras amid rising security threats from modern surveillance gadgets in Tirumala. He said smart glasses can record in private spaces and, with AI tools, enable real-time identification, posing risks of harassment. Experts said drones can conduct reconnaissance, spoof networks and carry harmful payloads, making them a major security concern.

Source: Indian Express April 04, 2026 01:29 UTC