Digi Yatra participation purely voluntary; data can be collected only after passenger’s consent: Scindia reassures passenger privacy

Digi Yatra is purely voluntary for air passengers and personnel at airports have been directed to collect data for the application only with the consent of passengers, informed Scindia.

Written by Shipra Parashar

January 28, 2024 09:56 IST

Data shared by passengers for Digi Yatra is securely stored in an encrypted format. (PTI)

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has affirmed that participation in Digi Yatra, the digital initiative aimed at enhancing air travel experience, is entirely voluntary for passengers. Airport personnel have been instructed to gather data for the application only with the explicit consent of passengers, Scindia stated.

This assurance comes in response to concerns raised by Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale regarding the collection of biometric data for Digi Yatra without passengers’ consent. Digi Yatra, designed to facilitate contactless and seamless movement of passengers at airports through Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), is currently operational at a minimum of 13 airports for domestic travelers.

Participation in Digi Yatra voluntary

Addressing Gokhale’s concerns, Scindia emphasised that airport operators have been directed to educate Digi buddies, individuals assisting passengers with Digi Yatra, on the importance of obtaining consent and ensuring that participation in Digi Yatra remains voluntary.

In a letter, Scindia reiterated that Digi Yatra is designed to offer passengers a hassle-free air travel experience and is entirely voluntary. “Consent of passenger is pre-requisite for taking face biometric on kiosk based registration. Further, the data is automatically purged from the airport system after 24 hours of departure of the flight,” Scindia said in the letter.

Digi Yatra data securely stored

Data shared by passengers for Digi Yatra is securely stored in an encrypted format. To utilise the service, passengers must register their details on the DigiYatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self-image capture. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers scan their boarding pass, and the credentials are verified by the airport’s facial recognition system at the e-gate.

Once identity validation is complete, passengers can proceed through the e-gate and follow standard security procedures to board their flight. The Digi Yatra Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, serves as the nodal body for Digi Yatra, overseeing its implementation and operation.

This article was first uploaded on January twenty-eight, twenty twenty-four, at fifty-six minutes past nine in the morning.