The Kerala High Court sought responses from the Union Government and the Digi Yatra Foundation in a petition raising concerns about the protection and handling of personal data collected through the Digi Yatra system used in airports. The case was considered by a division bench which examined the issues raised regarding privacy, data protection, and the management of biometric information collected from passengers using the Digi Yatra platform. The court issued notice to the authorities involved and asked them to respond to the allegations and concerns raised in the petition.
The Digi Yatra system has been introduced as a digital facility intended to enable seamless and paperless travel for airline passengers through biometric-based identification. It relies on facial recognition technology to verify passengers at different stages of the airport process, including entry into the terminal, security checks, and boarding. The system allows passengers to register their details through a mobile application and use biometric authentication instead of presenting traditional identity documents and boarding passes. The petition placed before the High Court raised concerns about how the personal and biometric data collected through this system is stored, processed, and protected.
The petitioner argued that the Digi Yatra framework involves the collection of sensitive personal information, including facial biometric data and other identification details of passengers. According to the petition, the use of such technology raises significant questions regarding the protection of personal data and the safeguards in place to prevent misuse. The concerns presented before the court focused on the potential risks associated with the storage and management of biometric information and the absence of adequate transparency regarding how the data is handled by the authorities and entities involved in operating the system.
During the hearing, the court considered the submissions made regarding the collection and use of biometric data. The petition highlighted that passengers who opt to use the Digi Yatra system provide facial recognition data and other personal information through the application. This information is then used to facilitate identity verification at various points in the airport. The petition raised questions about whether adequate legal and regulatory safeguards exist to ensure that such sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure.
The petitioner also raised concerns about the institutional structure behind the Digi Yatra system and the role played by the Digi Yatra Foundation in managing the platform. The foundation has been established as a not-for-profit company responsible for overseeing the Digi Yatra ecosystem. The petition questioned the level of oversight and accountability in relation to the foundation’s role in handling large volumes of personal and biometric data belonging to passengers. The issues raised before the court sought clarification on the regulatory framework governing the operations of the system and the protection of the data collected.
The High Court examined the nature of the concerns raised in the petition and considered the need for responses from the authorities responsible for the Digi Yatra initiative. The bench therefore issued notice to the Union Government and the Digi Yatra Foundation, directing them to place their responses on record. The court indicated that the issues raised in the petition required clarification from the authorities regarding the mechanisms and safeguards in place for protecting the personal data collected through the system.
The petition also referred to the broader context of privacy and data protection in relation to the use of biometric technologies. It pointed out that systems involving biometric identification require strong safeguards because biometric data is unique to individuals and cannot be easily changed if compromised. The concerns presented before the court emphasized the importance of ensuring that adequate security measures exist to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of such data once it is collected through the Digi Yatra platform.
In addition to questions regarding data protection, the petition raised issues about the transparency of the policies governing the Digi Yatra system. The petitioner sought clarification regarding how long the collected data is retained, the manner in which it is stored, and the extent to which passengers are informed about the use and handling of their information. These concerns were presented as part of the broader argument that the collection and use of biometric data in public infrastructure must be accompanied by clear policies and safeguards to ensure the protection of individuals’ privacy rights.
The court took note of the fact that the Digi Yatra system is being used at several airports to facilitate passenger processing through digital verification. Because the system involves the collection of biometric information, the petition emphasized that proper regulatory oversight is necessary to ensure that the data is used only for legitimate purposes related to airport travel and is not misused or accessed by unauthorized entities. The petition requested the court to examine whether the existing framework provides sufficient protection to individuals whose data is collected through the system.
After considering the submissions made in the petition, the High Court decided to seek responses from the authorities concerned. The court directed the Union Government and the Digi Yatra Foundation to explain the measures adopted to safeguard passenger data and the regulatory framework governing the functioning of the Digi Yatra platform. The bench indicated that the responses from these authorities would assist the court in examining the issues raised in the petition concerning privacy, data protection, and accountability.
The case thus placed before the High Court focuses on the legal and regulatory questions associated with the deployment of biometric-based passenger identification systems in airports. The petition brought attention to the collection of facial recognition data and other personal details of passengers through the Digi Yatra application and raised concerns about the potential risks associated with the handling of such information. By issuing notice and seeking responses from the authorities, the court initiated a process to examine the safeguards and policies governing the use of the Digi Yatra system.
The proceedings before the High Court reflect the broader concerns related to privacy and data protection in the context of technological systems that rely on biometric identification. The Digi Yatra platform processes identity and biometric information of passengers in order to enable automated verification at different stages of airport travel. Because of the sensitive nature of biometric data, the petition emphasized the importance of ensuring robust protections and clear regulatory oversight to prevent misuse or unauthorized access.
With the issuance of notice to the Union Government and the Digi Yatra Foundation, the High Court has sought clarification regarding the operational framework of the Digi Yatra system and the safeguards implemented for protecting passenger data. The authorities are expected to place their responses before the court addressing the concerns raised in the petition regarding data protection, privacy, and transparency in the functioning of the biometric-based airport verification system. The matter will continue to be considered by the court after the responses from the concerned authorities are received.
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