TBM Staff - Mumbai
The DigiYatra app, hailed as a revolutionary tool for airport check-ins in India, is facing scrutiny yet again, leaving frequent fliers like Haseeb Jafferi concerned about their data privacy. With recent reports of the app’s colour change and alleged compromise, users like Jafferi worry about potential data misuse and spam advertisements, prompting many to delete the app altogether.
This isn’t the first time the DigiYatra app has encountered issues. Privacy advocates have previously raised concerns about its data storage policies and the extent of oversight by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Despite attempts to rectify the situation, questions persist regarding the app’s security and user privacy.
While DigiYatra Foundation issued a clarification urging users to switch to a new version of the app, it failed to disclose the removal of app-maker DigiEvolve from the ecosystem. The revelation sparked further doubts about the app’s integrity, especially regarding past data compromises.
The situation is compounded by the dubious track record of the app maker, DataEvolve, whose involvement in a similar controversy in Andhra Pradesh has been widely documented. The company’s app for traffic violations was found to have significant discrepancies, leading to substantial financial losses and criminal allegations against its founder.
Privacy advocates like Apar Gupta argue that there should have been transparency regarding the background of the app makers from the outset. However, the security audit commissioned by CERT for Digi Yatra Foundation focused primarily on technical aspects and did not include background checks on the app maker, raising further concerns about oversight.
As users navigate these challenges, questions persist about the reliability and security of the DigiYatra app, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of such technologies.
