Concerns Regarding the Digi Yatra Program  Indian Express

Context

The Digi Yatra program, aimed at digitizing airport processes through facial recognition technology, is facing scrutiny due to discrepancies between the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Ministry of Information Technology (IT). Significant concerns have been raised regarding the lack of regulatory safeguards and potential privacy issues associated with this initiative.

Digi Yatra Overview

• About: Digi Yatra is a digital platform designed to streamline airport check-ins and boarding procedures by utilizing facial recognition technology.
• Aim: The primary objective of the system is to reduce human involvement and enhance the efficiency of airport processes.
• Implementation: The program is implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

Digi Yatra Foundation

• Established: The Digi Yatra Foundation was formed in 2019 as a joint venture company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Shareholders: The foundation is jointly owned by the Airports Authority of India (26%) and various airports, including Hyderabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi (74%).
• Responsibilities: It serves as the custodian of the Passenger ID validation process.
• Policy: A significant policy in place is that facial biometrics are deleted 24 hours after departure, intended to address privacy concerns.

Concerns

• Regulatory Safeguards: The absence of comprehensive regulatory measures to protect passenger data raises alarms about misuse and data security.
• Privacy Issues: The implementation of facial recognition technology has sparked debates over privacy violations and the ethical implications of monitoring passengers without their explicit consent.

The ongoing discussions highlight the need for clear guidelines and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure that such technological advancements do not compromise individual privacy rights or lead to potential misuse of data.