India expands airport facial recognition amid surveillance fears

India is rapidly expanding its use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in airports through the Digi Yatra system, launched in December 2022. Now active at 28 airports, it accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s air travel. Digi Yatra aims to streamline security and enhance passenger convenience by enabling facial recognition for pre-boarding checks, reducing the reliance on physical documents, and minimizing queue times.

Passengers can voluntarily enrol by uploading a selfie and travel details to the Digi Yatra app, allowing seamless movement through airport checkpoints. The Civil Aviation Ministry has clarified that passenger data is encrypted, stored solely on smartphones, and shared only between the passenger and the airport of origin. All data is automatically purged from airport systems within 24 hours of flight departure.

The government has also addressed rumors regarding data misuse, with the Income Tax Department stating that Digi Yatra data is not being used to identify tax evaders and refuting claims of any current plans to access such information.

Despite these assurances, concerns persist regarding the implementation of Digi Yatra. Experts note that as air travel increases, non-Digi Yatra passengers face longer queues due to the allocation of more gates for Digi Yatra users. This disparity raises questions about whether participation is truly voluntary or increasingly a necessity.

Privacy advocates have also raised alarms about the lack of comprehensive data protection laws in India. While Digi Yatra emphasizes data privacy and transparency, critics argue that without robust regulations, there remains a risk of misuse. NITI Aayog has called for stronger individual control over data privacy within the Digi Yatra framework.

In response to these concerns, the Digi Yatra Foundation has pledged to improve transparency by conducting regular audits and notifying users when their data is erased.

While Digi Yatra offers significant benefits, including faster processing and reduced congestion, addressing these concerns is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring robust privacy safeguards in India’s expanding digital ecosystem.