File image of Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on the launch of Digi Yatra
| Photo Credit: PTI
Airports have been suggested to ensure that registration of air travellers for the Digi Yatra initiative, which offers digital processing of passengers at varied checkpoints with the assistance of a face scan, is “completely voluntary”, Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia wrote in response to a letter from TMC MP Saket Gokhale following complaints from passengers.
“The issue raised by you has been examined and airport operators have been advised to sensitise Digi buddies on consent taking process and keeping use of Digi Yatra completely voluntary,” Mr. Scindia mentioned in his letter on January 24. Digi buddies are employees employed by airports to help passengers to enrol for Digi Yatra.
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale wrote to Mr. Scindia after he obtained a number of complaints from air travellers that their “biometrics were being sneakily taken without their consent”. The Hindu additionally reported on January 5 about widespread concern amongst passengers that their facial biometrics have been being recorded by airport employees in a “coercive and deceptive” method with out their consent or data.
In his letter, the Minister additionally defined that consent of passengers was a prerequisite for recording facial biometric information on the time of registration. He reiterated that the information is purged from the airport programs inside 24 hours of flight departure.
The Digi Yatra initiative, at present being applied at 13 airports, entails a cellular app the place passengers can register with the assistance of their Aadhaar and a selfie in order that they will use their face as a boarding move at varied checkpoints at an airport.
Questions have been raised about lack of safeguards to ensure privateness and the Digi Yatra coverage permitting any safety or authorities company entry to passenger information in addition to altering the information purge settings primarily based on “security requirements” in addition to loopholes that would lead to third events buying passenger information.
Earlier this week, the Minister additionally held a advisory group assembly with varied airports the place the technique to implement Digi Yatra for worldwide journey was mentioned.