Digi Yatra foundation: Prioritizing passenger data security amid expansion endeavors

The Digi Yatra Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the personal data of passengers, emphasizing that personally identifiable information (PII) is not stored within its system. Utilizing Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra facilitates contactless and seamless movement for travelers across various airport checkpoints.

Transparent approach to data handling

Central to Digi Yatra's framework is the concept of Self Sovereign Identity, ensuring that ID credentials data containing PII are never stored centrally. The Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE) solely retains Hash/Key values for data integrity verification, enhancing privacy and security measures.

Recent concerns regarding data privacy, particularly in connection with a former vendor, prompted proactive measures from the foundation. CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi affirmed the removal of the vendor, Dataevolve, from the Digi Yatra ecosystem. Stressing the safety of personal data for over 3.3 million Indian users, the foundation clarified that user data remains exclusively on their mobile devices within the Digi Yatra app.

Furthermore, Digi Yatra outlined its data retention policy, assuring users that credentials data and travel history are deleted upon uninstallation or deletion of the app. Data shared during airport verification processes undergoes automatic deletion within 24 hours of flight departure, reinforcing the commitment to privacy.

ALSO READ: Bombay High Court upholds Right to Sleep: Fundamental human right affirmed

Compliance and auditing

In compliance with civil aviation ministry policies, Digi Yatra holds a mandatory CERT-In audit certificate, ensuring adherence to data protection standards. The foundation disclosed that the latest audit, conducted in January, reiterated the non-storage of PII within the system, providing additional assurance to users.

In conclusion, Digi Yatra's proactive approach to data privacy, coupled with transparent policies and compliance measures, underscores its commitment to ensuring a secure and seamless travel experience for passengers across expanding airport networks.

ALSO READ: IndiGo flight's close call raises safety concerns among passengers