Privacy concerns: IRCTC scraps passenger data monetisation plan

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has junked its passenger data monetisation plan following backlash on privacy issues. An official statement said that IRCTC has withdrawn the tender for appointment of consultant for suggesting business strategies using data available.

This development took place on the day a parliamentary panel had called upon representatives of IRCTC to be briefed on the subject of citizens’ data security and privacy.

IRCTC was facing flak for floating an expression of interest (EOI) to rope in a consultant to explore avenues for passenger data monetisation. The criticism was amplified since the country does not have a data protection framework in place.


Company officiala had told ET that a final decision on the way ahead for data monetisation was to be taken at a much later stage and that the current exercise was very preliminary in nature.