Will safeguard passengers’ privacy: MoCA

Indian airports have come under question for clicking photographs of passengers without consent sparking significant privacy concerns The controversy revolves around the DigiYatra scheme which aims to streamline and enhance the passenger experience using facial recognition technology However recent incidents have highlighted potential breaches of the Ministry of Civil Aviationrsquos MoCA guidelinesPassengers raising concernsMany passengers have voiced their concerns emphasising the importance of consent and privacy in such technological advancements An x user Harsha Vadlamani posted ldquoHey airvistara and RGIAHyd a staffer operating a camera with a frontfacing screen took photos of all UK888 passengers at gate 111 this morning Was too tired and groggy to ask them but care to explain what was happeningrdquoA camera was placed at gate 111 at the Hyderabad airportVistara replied ldquoHi Harsha we wish to inform you that the camerarsquos placed on the boarding gates is for the Digiyatra process and the same is applicable for all the customers We hope this helps Thanks Muskaanrdquo Harsha again asked for confirmation that all passengersrsquo photographs were taken posting ldquoThank you Muskaan Just to reconfirm photos of all passengers are being taken regardless of them opting for DigiyatrardquoTo which the Vistara representative replied ldquoAs checked with the airport team we wish to confirm that pictures of all the customers are taken Thanks Muskaanrdquo Another user Krishi replied ldquoSame is applicable for all customersrsquo airvistara how did you decide that on behalf of all customers And what makes it applicable Is there a government notification regarding thisrdquo Another user Preetam Hegde said ldquoWhat about people who opted out Digiyatra They donrsquot have a choicerdquoldquoI was surprised and uncomfortable when I noticed my photograph being taken at the airport without my consent Itrsquos a clear violation of my privacy and I feel uneasy about how this data might be used I did not opt for the DigiYatra scheme while booking the ticketsrdquo said another passenger requesting anonymityldquoThe unauthorised collection of biometric data poses significant risks to individualsrsquo privacy and security Authorities must adhere to established guidelines and ensure that passengersrsquo consent is obtained before any data collection What if the passenger has not opted for DigiYatra Why is it a compulsion for himher to consent to the photograph This is also a clear violation of Article 21 right to privacy which is also our fundamental right Photographs are taken without consentrdquo he addedMinistry guidelinesThe guidelines explicitly state that photographs of passengers should not be taken without their consent This directive aims to respect the privacy of passengers who choose not to opt into the scheme while booking their ticketsldquoDescribe clearly the choices available to and obtain implicitexplicit consent in relation to personal data prior to collecting and processingrdquo Despite these clear instructions passengers have reported instances where their photographs were taken without permission leading to discontentOfficials and agenciesIn response to the rising concerns the MoCA has promised a thorough review of the current practices at airports ldquoWe take these allegations seriously and are committed to upholding the privacy rights of passengers We will investigate these reports and take appropriate action to ensure compliance with the guidelinesrdquo a senior official from MoCA stated A senior DGCA official stated that this scheme is not under their jurisdiction and all the power regarding it lies with the ministry itselfVistara SpeaksVistara released a statement on X following the conversation between Harsha and the airline as concerns started to escalate on passenger privacy ldquoDear Harsha we duly understand your query regarding the camera placed at the boarding gate for UK888 while you were traveling with us on June 7th 2024 While we acknowledge the concerns that customers may have regarding privacy and data handling it is imperative to mention that the process is not under the direct control of any airline This initiative falls under the purview and guidelines set forth by the DigiYatra program itself and is implemented by the airport Rest assured we remain committed to maintaining the highest level of data privacy and security We look forward to your kind understandingrdquoAviation rights activistAdv Yashwant Shenoy an aviation rights activist said ldquoLet alone going to the constitution these rules were formed by the government and are violated by them only In India the right to privacy and other fundamental rights are just to be kept in the books On ground reality is that these fundamental rights are blatantly violatedThe DGCA needs to check during its audit whether the biometric data stored by airlines is deleted within 24 hours of the passenger boarding the flight as stated in the DigiYatra guidelines issued by the ministry But sadly DGCA is just a puppet in the hands of the airlines with several grey areas in the rules which airlines use for their profitrdquo