Dear DigiYatra Users..

Subject: Who Takes Care of Your Data?

Dear Govtech users,

Govtech = Digiyatra, eAadhaar, eKYC, Digilocker, CoWIN, Aarogya Setu, AI camera etc.

I am writing this email to you to ask a simple question: who takes care of your data when you submit it to platforms like Digilocker or Digiyatra?

Whoever has been assigned to do it, are they aware of all the protection methods to keep it secure from unethical hackers or people (in or outside the government) who might profit from it or sell it to a private company?

Concerns

1. Information technology use at scale
2. Privacy
3. Misuse of data
4. Unethical hackers
5. Ultimate system collapse

A short story from Lucknow

https://www.theplankmag.com/ai-safe-city

₹100-crore expense by Lucknow on AI cameras under India’s Safe City programme. The result: it gives two genuine alerts per day.

Comment

Someone sitting in an air-conditioned office, with the power to allocate money, thought it was progressive to spend ₹100 crores in a single city like Lucknow to send a message to the world that India is becoming a safer place for women.

Apart from failing to make Lucknow a safer place, this system surveils the people of Lucknow. The recordings of people are managed by private companies, and we cannot even ascertain if the data is secure.

Are there better ways to implement information technology?

Why aren’t experts being consulted? Why should bureaucrats decide the right technology for the right problem? If someone is interested, how can they get involved?

Public Policy at FOSS United

1. Takshashila X FOSS United
2. End Software Patents (India)
3. Public Discussion

So, what should we do?

1. Read more.
2. Participate in discussions (Join our Telegram/Matrix). - https://fossunited.org/join

But why?

1. Career opportunities: Think tanks, non-profits as a side gig, or consulting roles.
2. To protect yourself, your family, and society: to prevent your data from being sold or monitored.