NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Covid-19
Politics
India

Who Created Aarogya Setu? Govt Has No Clue; RTI Body Issues Show-cause Notices

The NIC did not have information on the creation of the Aarogya Setu app when it is written in the app that it has been developed, designed and hosted by the NIC.
Newsclick Report
28 Oct 2020
Who Created Aarogya Setu? Govt Has No Clue; RTI Body Issues Show-cause Notices

Image Courtesy: Free Press Journal

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued show-cause notices to the chief public information officers at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the NeGD (National E-Governance division) after their evasive reply to an RTI application that sought information about who created the ‘aarogya setu’ application. The NIC, which comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, designs the government websites.

The CIC also has sought explanation from the NIC on why they do not have any information about the creation of the Aarogya Setu app when it is written in the app that it has been developed, designed and hosted by the NIC.

“The commission directs the CPIO, NIC to explain this matter in writing as to how the website https://aarogyasetu.gov.in/ was created with the domain name gov.in, if they don’t have any information about it,” Vanjana N Sarna, Information Commissioner, said in an order.

The CIC said that none of the chief public information officers (CPIOs) were able to explain who created the Aarogya Setu app, where the files were and called the situation “extremely preposterous”.

The three officials that have been served the notices to are S.K Tyagi, Deputy Director and CPIO, DK Sagar, deputy director, electronics and RA Dhawan, senior general manager (HR & Admn), CPIO, NeGD.

The app was launched by the government in April to track the spread of Covid-19 infection.

The entire issue surfaced when one Saurav Das complained to the CIC that the ministries have failed to provide information about the process of creation of the Aarogya Setu application and who created it.

In his complaint, Mr. Das stated that an RTI application was filed to the NIC inquiring about application and the NIC stated that it did not have any information relating to the creation of the app. He also said that even the Ministry of Electronics and the NeGD did not provide any information about the creation of the app and such other matters.

The Aarogya Setu app was downloaded by million of Indians during the lockdown period when it was made mandatory for government employees and for those travelling by flight. The app is also a must to enter restaurants, metro stations, and cinema halls as directed by the Home Ministry.

Denied any information by the authorities, petitioner Saurav Das noted:

“No one has any information on how this App was created, the files relating to its creation, who has given inputs for this App's creation, what audit measures exists to check for misuse of the personal data of millions of Indians, whether any anonymisation protocols for user data have been developed and about who this data is being shared with. This is despite the fact that any omissions and commissions by these public authorities and any failure to perform their duties as outlined and mandated under the Protocol, 2020, could essentially lead to security compromise of millions of Indians' personal and user data. This would be a grave breach of fundamental right to privacy on a massive scale and threaten people's constitutionally guaranteed right to life and liberty”.

The CIC, in response to the complaint, has served the notices to the CPIOs.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Electronics Ministry
Aarogya Setu
Chief Information Commission
Home Ministry
Covid 19 Tracker
Data privacy
rti
Related Stories
Personal Info of 1,29,000 Users Stolen in Data Breach, Says Singapore’s Singtel

Personal Info of 1,29,000 Users Stolen in Data Breach, Says Singapore’s Singtel

Mobile Apps and Aadhaar Seeding Cannot Solve Every Problem India Has

Mobile Apps and Aadhaar Seeding Cannot Solve Every Problem India Has

SC Watsapp

SC Notice to WhatsApp, Centre over WhatsApp’s New Privacy Policy; Says Our Duty to Protect Privacy of People

cic

CIC Refuses Disclosure of Meeting Minutes of Selection Committee on Appointment of Lokpal Chairperson, Members

arogya setu

Delhi HC Asks MeitY, Information Officers to Reply to RTI on Aarogya Setu App

whatsapp privacy policy

The Ugly Truth of WhatsApp’s User Data Privacy

election commission

Data Security? EC Allows Voters’ List to Used for COVID Vaccination Drive

RTI.

Bihar: RTI Whistleblowers Allege No Action by Govt Despite Prolonged Harassment, Intimidation

Modi Govt Paid Rs 1,364 Crore to Over 20 Lakh Undeserving Beneficiaries under PM-KISAN, RTI Reveals

Modi Govt Paid Rs 1,364 Crore to Over 20 Lakh Undeserving Beneficiaries under PM-KISAN, RTI Reveals

‘Telangana’s New Revenue Reforms Hasty and Technically Unsound’

‘Telangana’s New Revenue Reforms Hasty and Technically Unsound’

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

PTI

Personal Info of 1,29,000 Users Stolen in Data Breach, Says Singapore’s Singtel

18 February 2021
Singapore: Personal information of about
Sarada Mahesh

Mobile Apps and Aadhaar Seeding Cannot Solve Every Problem India Has

16 February 2021
Whenever a problem arises, the government turns to technology or mobile app rather than solve the underlying problem.
The Leaflet

SC Notice to WhatsApp, Centre over WhatsApp’s New Privacy Policy; Says Our Duty to Protect Privacy of People

15 February 2021
TThe Supreme Court Monday issued notice to Facebook, WhatsApp and the Central Government on a plea seeking to restrain WhatsApp fr

Pagination

  • Previous page ‹‹
  • Next page ››

More

  • Rajya Sabha Adjourned Twice After Opposition Uproar Over Rising Fuel Prices

    Rajya Sabha Adjourned Twice After Opposition Uproar Over Rising Fuel Prices

  • 86.25% New COVID Cases in 6 States, 18,599 Fresh Cases Recorded

    86.25% New COVID Cases in 6 States, 18,599 Fresh Cases Recorded

  • Race, Title and Anguish: Meghan and Harry Explain Royal Rift

    Race, Title and Anguish: Meghan and Harry Explain Royal Rift

  • ICIMOD Study Says Chamoli Disaster Was Triggered by Massive Landslide

    ICIMOD Study Says Chamoli Disaster Was Triggered by Massive Landslide

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about