The Income Tax Department also clarified that this system has nothing to do with cases of tax evasion. However, the department says that it always keeps an eye on tax evasion, but tools like Digi Yatra are not being used for this.
The Income Tax Department has stated in its report that it is not using the data of Digi Yatra to crack down on tax evasion cases. The department shared a post on the social media platform ‘X’ and denied the rumor, which claimed that the data of Digi Yatra would be used to identify tax evaders. The Income Tax Department termed it baseless and said that no action has been taken in this regard so far.
Income Tax Department said this
In this clarification made by the Income Tax Department, it was also said that the data related to Digi Yatra is not being used by the department in any kind of tax evasion investigation or action. The department also denied the reports which claimed that the data of passengers obtained through Digi Yatra would be used to catch tax evasion.
What is the specialty of Digi Yatra?
Digi Yatra is a digital system based on facial recognition technology (FRT). Through this, passengers get the facility of seamless and contactless movement at airports. In this, the identity of the passengers is confirmed through facial recognition, which saves time at security check points and provides convenience to the passengers. The data that passengers share for Digi Yatra is completely encrypted, which ensures their privacy.
The system is operated by the Digi Yatra Foundation, which implements and operates it at various airports. Digi Yatra data is useful only for passengers who share their information to avail the service. The process is completely voluntary, and other traditional verification processes are available for passengers who do not agree to it.
The Income Tax Department also clarified that this system has nothing to do with tax evasion cases. However, the department says that it always keeps an eye on tax evasion, but tools like Digi Yatra are not being used for this. This statement dismisses speculation that the government is planning to identify tax evaders through digital surveillance.
