DigiYatra Proves India Can Innovate - But Privacy Lags Behind
Source: the-ken.com
- DigiYatra, a facial recognition system for airport boarding, collects biometric data from millions of Indian flyers without a clear privacy law.
- India lacks a comprehensive data protection law five years after its Supreme Court ruled privacy is a fundamental right.
- DigiYatra succeeds due to strong leadership but highlights India's broader struggle to balance innovation with data privacy.
DigiYatra is a rare success in India's digital public infrastructure, letting passengers use facial scans to zip through airport checks instead of paper tickets. Launched in 2022, it now covers 28 airports and has enrolled over 75 lakh users. The article argues it's an exception proving the rule: India pushes ambitious tech projects amid a privacy vacuum, as the government delays a key data protection law. This matters because it shows how bold ideas can thrive without rules - but risks public t