Railways floats tender for advisor to monetise buyer knowledge, might withdraw it over privateness issues

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Railways has floated a young to rent a advisor to monetise its passenger and freight buyer knowledge with the intention to generate income as much as Rs 1,000 crore, however sources mentioned it could be withdrawn amid issues over privateness points.

While many on social media, together with advocacy teams have raised issues over violation of information privateness points, authorities sources have clarified that the advisor would advise the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on steps to enhance its present enterprise and plan methods to monetise future alternatives.

While the Railways has not formally commented on the tender, extremely positioned sources mentioned it is going to be withdrawn “considering the fact that the Data Protection Bill has not been finalised”.

According to the tender doc, the info to be studied will embody data captured by the transporter’s numerous public-facing purposes reminiscent of “name, age, mobile number, gender, address, e-mail ID, class of journey, payment mode, login or password” and different particulars.

The IRCTC has greater than 10 crore customers, of which 7.5 crore are energetic customers.

The doc additionally said that the advisor, as soon as finalised, shall be offered the small print of purposes and the info collected thereon for conducting the examine for ‘Monetization of Digital Data of Indian Railways.

The advisor shall examine the info of passenger, freight and parcel companies of the Indian Railways reminiscent of PRS, NGeT, NTES, UTS, Rail Madad, FOIS, TMS, e-CRM, and PMS, in addition to vendor-related knowledge from purposes like IREPS, VMS and IPAS.

The doc titled ‘The Scope of Work for Project A: For examine of Monetization of Digital Data of Indian Railways(IR)’ mentioned the advisor would even be offered entry to the digital knowledge programs which generate behavioural knowledge reminiscent of circulation of passengers, class of journey, frequency of journey, journey time, reserving time, age group and gender, fee mode, variety of locations and reserving modes.

The goal of the train, it mentioned, is for the IRCTC to leverage its knowledge property and market place to drive sturdy development in revenues.

This may be achieved by bettering buyer expertise, increasing the portfolio of merchandise being provided to the purchasers and/or growing new enterprise traces and partnerships, the doc said.

“IRCTC envisages a revenue generation potential of Rs 1,000 Cr through Monetization of its Digital Assets. IRCTC wishes to engage a consulting firm to help in identification, design, and development and roll-out of data monetization opportunities,” it mentioned.

While the Railways is but to formally reply, sources near the event mentioned the IRCTC doesn’t “sell its data and neither has any intention to do so”.

They mentioned the advisor is being employed to advise the IRCTC on steps to enhance its present enterprise and plan out methods to monetise future companies.

It may even deal with how the IRCTC might undertake new enterprise alternatives.

“IRCTC will also develop new businesses on its own platform and will need assistance from market leaders. IRCTC does not store any financial data of its customers at its end, as at the time of online payment for its various services, control is passed on to the respective payment gateway or bank for the payment,” the sources mentioned.

The doc additionally mentioned that the advisor will examine numerous Acts or legal guidelines, together with the IT Act, 2000 and its amendments, person knowledge privateness legal guidelines, together with the General Data Protection Regulation and the present ‘Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018’, and accordingly, suggest the enterprise fashions for monetisation of digital property.

The advisor would additionally put together a roadmap for knowledge monetisation of the digital knowledge collected at numerous customer-facing and vendor-related purposes which embody zonal railways, divisions, and different items like CRIS, and PSUs like IRCTC, Railtel, and so forth.

Tasks listed for the appointed advisor embody segregation of monetisable knowledge units, identification of market potential internationally, and preparation of a roadmap for knowledge monetisation of the digital knowledge.

Internet Freedom Foundation, a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation advocating digital rights and liberties, has raised issues over the tender and outlined its pitfalls in a collection of tweets.

“Hey practice travellers, your knowledge will quickly be monetised by the government. & that too, within the absence of an information safety laws! A revenue maximisation purpose will end in better incentives for knowledge assortment, violating rules of information minimisation & objective limitation.

Past experiences from the misuse of Vahan database amplify fears of mass surveillance & safety dangers,” it mentioned.

“IRCTC, a government-controlled monopoly, must not prioritise perverse commercial interests over the rights and interests of citizens. And given the recent withdrawal of the Data Protection Bill, 2021, such monetisation becomes even more concerning,” the NGO added.

NEW DELHI: The Railways has floated a young to rent a advisor to monetise its passenger and freight buyer knowledge with the intention to generate income as much as Rs 1,000 crore, however sources mentioned it could be withdrawn amid issues over privateness points.

While many on social media, together with advocacy teams have raised issues over violation of information privateness points, authorities sources have clarified that the advisor would advise the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on steps to enhance its present enterprise and plan methods to monetise future alternatives.

While the Railways has not formally commented on the tender, extremely positioned sources mentioned it is going to be withdrawn “considering the fact that the Data Protection Bill has not been finalised”.

According to the tender doc, the info to be studied will embody data captured by the transporter’s numerous public-facing purposes reminiscent of “name, age, mobile number, gender, address, e-mail ID, class of journey, payment mode, login or password” and different particulars.

The IRCTC has greater than 10 crore customers, of which 7.5 crore are energetic customers.

The doc additionally said that the advisor, as soon as finalised, shall be offered the small print of purposes and the info collected thereon for conducting the examine for ‘Monetization of Digital Data of Indian Railways.

The advisor shall examine the info of passenger, freight and parcel companies of the Indian Railways reminiscent of PRS, NGeT, NTES, UTS, Rail Madad, FOIS, TMS, e-CRM, and PMS, in addition to vendor-related knowledge from purposes like IREPS, VMS and IPAS.

The doc titled ‘The Scope of Work for Project A: For examine of Monetization of Digital Data of Indian Railways(IR)’ mentioned the advisor would even be offered entry to the digital knowledge programs which generate behavioural knowledge reminiscent of circulation of passengers, class of journey, frequency of journey, journey time, reserving time, age group and gender, fee mode, variety of locations and reserving modes.

The goal of the train, it mentioned, is for the IRCTC to leverage its knowledge property and market place to drive sturdy development in revenues.

This may be achieved by bettering buyer expertise, increasing the portfolio of merchandise being provided to the purchasers and/or growing new enterprise traces and partnerships, the doc said.

“IRCTC envisages a revenue generation potential of Rs 1,000 Cr through Monetization of its Digital Assets. IRCTC wishes to engage a consulting firm to help in identification, design, and development and roll-out of data monetization opportunities,” it mentioned.

While the Railways is but to formally reply, sources near the event mentioned the IRCTC doesn’t “sell its data and neither has any intention to do so”.

They mentioned the advisor is being employed to advise the IRCTC on steps to enhance its present enterprise and plan out methods to monetise future companies.

It may even deal with how the IRCTC might undertake new enterprise alternatives.

“IRCTC will also develop new businesses on its own platform and will need assistance from market leaders. IRCTC does not store any financial data of its customers at its end, as at the time of online payment for its various services, control is passed on to the respective payment gateway or bank for the payment,” the sources mentioned.

The doc additionally mentioned that the advisor will examine numerous Acts or legal guidelines, together with the IT Act, 2000 and its amendments, person knowledge privateness legal guidelines, together with the General Data Protection Regulation and the present ‘Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018’, and accordingly, suggest the enterprise fashions for monetisation of digital property.

The advisor would additionally put together a roadmap for knowledge monetisation of the digital knowledge collected at numerous customer-facing and vendor-related purposes which embody zonal railways, divisions, and different items like CRIS, and PSUs like IRCTC, Railtel, and so forth.

Tasks listed for the appointed advisor embody segregation of monetisable knowledge units, identification of market potential internationally, and preparation of a roadmap for knowledge monetisation of the digital knowledge.

Internet Freedom Foundation, a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation advocating digital rights and liberties, has raised issues over the tender and outlined its pitfalls in a collection of tweets.

“Hey practice travellers, your knowledge will quickly be monetised by the government. & that too, within the absence of an information safety laws! A revenue maximisation purpose will end in better incentives for knowledge assortment, violating rules of information minimisation & objective limitation.

Past experiences from the misuse of Vahan database amplify fears of mass surveillance & safety dangers,” it mentioned.

“IRCTC, a government-controlled monopoly, must not prioritise perverse commercial interests over the rights and interests of citizens. And given the recent withdrawal of the Data Protection Bill, 2021, such monetisation becomes even more concerning,” the NGO added.