A debate around ‘privacy’, ‘AI-training’ and ‘household data collection’ has triggered wider discussion across India’s home services sector after Bengaluru based startup ‘Pronto’ faced backlash over reports related to recordings inside customers’ homes.
The controversy gained attention after journalist Harsh Upadhyay raised concerns on X regarding Pronto’s use of cameras during select home service bookings. In his post, Upadhyay alleged that the company was turning ‘Indian homes into training grounds’ for its investors’ physical AI-ambitions and claimed that Pronto professionals were using ‘small outward facing cameras during select opt-in jobs,’ with customers receiving the footage afterward.
The discussion quickly escalated online, with users questioning how recordings inside private homes were being handled and whether customers were fully aware of how the data could be used for AI-related purposes.
Following the backlash, Pronto issued a public clarification on X explaining how the programme operates. The company said cameras are used only when customers actively opt in and pay separately for the programme. It also clarified that consent is not permanent and must be reaffirmed before every booking.
Unless you have opted-in and paid for the program personally, the Pro doesn’t come to the house with a camera. Opt in is not one time, it has to be affirmed before each booking. By default there is no camera involved, and when there is, it’s impossible to miss. The pilot reaches… https://t.co/Fqnw76Mk4N
— Pronto (@withpronto) May 24, 2026
According to Pronto, no cameras are involved in regular bookings by default and when cameras are used, they are clearly visible. The startup stated that the pilot currently reaches only 0.1% of customers and said the programme was developed after months of work to ensure compliance with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework. The company also added that it is “not the only company in the space doing this.”
Multiple media reports stated that the pilot programme was linked to physical AI training initiatives involving real world household activities such as cleaning and dishwashing.
The issue has since expanded into a wider debate around customer consent, data privacy safeguards and the growing use of AI driven data collection inside private living spaces.
Amid the ongoing debate, Abhiraj Singh Bhal publicly clarified Urban Company position through a post on X. Responding to questions around whether Urban Company engages in similar activities, Bhal said the company does not record inside customers homes and has no plans to introduce such practices in the future.
In his statement, Bhal said Urban Company is ‘in the business of trust’ and emphasised that customer privacy remains a core priority for the platform. He further added that the company has never engaged in such recording practices and remains committed to maintaining confidentiality, safety and customer trust standards.
In light of recent reports regarding recordings inside customers’ homes by one of our competitors, many people have asked whether @urbancompany_UC engages in anything similar, or intends to do so in the future.
The answer is clear and unequivocal: we do not.
We are in the…
— Abhiraj Singh Bhal (@abhirajbhal) May 24, 2026
