Private parties must face data checks: Officials
Hyderabad:Concerns are being raised about the safety of the data collected for the Centre's digital crop survey, which the Telangana government has undertaken through their agriculture extension officers (AEOs).
Some AEOs told Deccan Chronicle that the data of farmers, their Aadhaar card, personal bank account and details of family members were sought for the survey, which was being loaded using private applications. They said this information could be a gold mine for seed, pesticide and fertiliser companies. Crop loan data could be used by private financial companies to deny farmers more loans.
All of this is part of building the government's AgriStack (the name given to a collection of technology-based interventions in agriculture).
The AEOs said they were being given APK (Android package) files that are shared on WhatsApp, which seek access to the user’s contacts, photographs, voice and features on their personal mobiles.
Commenting on the security aspect, Srinivas Kodali, researcher and hacktivist with the Free Software Movement of India, said: “Private sector involvement has always been there in data collection and storage. But it's always beneficial for the government to retain data.”
“If private parties are involved stringent checks and balances should be put in place, including periodical audits and data protection assessments,” he said.
“Governments argue that citizens will be given a choice on whether or not they want to share data. But, like Aadhaar, it will become compulsory for us to part with our information,” Kodali added.
Explaining how the farmer data can be used, an AEO, who had worked for Iffco, said, “Using the data on crop pattern I chose to locate our outlet in Maganoor in Narayanpet district. The profits went beyond `1 crore in just one year.”
He said the data on village-wise paddy procurement was useful to rice millers and traders to locate their mills; the data can be monetised. “We are also uploading crop loan data of farmers. Unsecured data can be accessed by hackers and used as they can see the last digit of account numbers. The gullible farmers can be duped into clicking on the links thereby affecting their safety.”
However, commissioner of agriculture B. Gopi rubbished the fears and said: “The same apps have been used for crop booking in the past. Only a photograph feature has been added to it now. The allegation was levelled to stall the digital survey process by floating a conspiracy angle.”
On the dangers posed to farmers as the data is in the hands of private parties, Kiran Vissa, Rythu Swarajya Vedika, said, “The big concern is what will be done with the data and who will have access to it. If the data on loan history of the farmers is given to private companies, that may be used to deprive the farmers of loans citing their credit history. The government should come out with a clear policy on the safeguards for the data as well as make sure that the same is not used against the interests of the farmers.”
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