The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is facing sharp criticism after it allegedly manipulated images using artificial intelligence to falsely claim that civic issues raised by residents had been resolved, instead of actually addressing them.
The controversy erupted when a resident from Pallikaranai posted a complaint on X, highlighting exposed electric cables along Sunnambu Kolathur Road, which posed a serious safety risk to school children. In response, GCC officials closed the complaint on their portal by uploading an altered photograph of the location. The image, edited with a basic AI eraser tool commonly found on smartphones and computers, appeared to show the issue as resolved.
However, the manipulated photo retained the original electric wires the very subject of the complaint while unrelated elements such as vehicles were digitally removed. The poorly edited image also included visible shadows and smudges, common indicators of AI tampering.
P. Kannadasan, the complainant, expressed his disappointment, stating that the corporation was closing grievances without taking any real action. In the past, GCC’s portal allowed residents to escalate unresolved complaints to the regional deputy commissioner, but that option was missing in this instance.
Manoharan, the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) for the Perungudi zone, claimed he was unaware of the complaint. He explained that the road falls under the Highways Department and said he had referred the issue accordingly. “I didn’t use any AI tools. The corporation will handle the cable removal on its own,” he added.
Perungudi Zonal Chairman S. V. Ravichandran responded by emphasizing that the government is committed to resolving public grievances. “Any isolated incidents like this will be investigated, and officials responsible will face consequences,” he assured.
Despite these statements, civic activists pointed out that this is not an isolated case. According to Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, GCC handles around 100 complaints daily across multiple platforms, and there have been recurring instances of complaints being closed without resolution. “The corporation must not make it seem like filing complaints is a waste of time,” he warned.
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