Govt issues guidelines for processing Aarogya Setu data

The government on Monday issued a set of guidelines for processing of data collected through Aarogya Setu app that bar storage of data for more than six months and specify jail term for violators of certain rules.

Amid concerns expressed in certain quarters about data privacy of people who use the app, the guidelines provide an option to individuals to seek deletion of their data from the record within 30 days of making such a request while a senior government official asserted that "privacy is an important aspect of Aarogya Setu".

The fresh guidelines allow collection of only demographic, contact, self assessment and location data of persons infected by the coronavirus or those who come in contact with the infected person.

Till date, 9.8 crore people have downloaded the Aarogya Setu app, which has been made mandatory in COVID-19 containment zones.

The app alerts users if they come in close contact with a person infected with coronavirus.

The latest guidelines lay down procedure on handling of data by various agencies involved in controlling spread of the pandemic.

The data can also be shared with universities for research purposes only after delinking details that can identify individuals using the app, as per the government.

Penalty clauses under the Disaster Management Act also have provisions for jail term for officials.

The most important function is the flow of data from the app to various departments where huge emphasis has been laid on privacy of individuals.

Data of a non-infected person is deleted from Aarogya Setu app in 30 days, 45 days in case of tests and 60 days if a person has undergone treatment.

"The app users are given device ID which is used for processing various information and functions. The individual's contact is used only to alert the user," 

The government has also issued a toll free number '1921' for those who do not have smartphones.

"Less than 13,000 users of Aarogya Setu have been found to be COVID-19 positive but due to help of this (app), around 1.4 lakh were traced and alerted who have come in close contact with infected persons.

Advocacy groups have alleged that the government is using Aarogya Setu for mass surveillance especially in absence of any legislation around privacy.