E-passport: Paternalism packaged in a chip

India is finally joining the digital identity race with its nationwide rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. Over 20,000 have already been issued in Tamil Nadu, and 13 cities are set to go live.

- SHREY MADAAN

India is finally joining the digital identity race with its nationwide rollout of chip-enabled e-passports. Over 20,000 have already been issued in Tamil Nadu, and 13 cities are set to go live. The government promises faster immigration, better data security, and a smoother travel experience. But behind the glossy pitch of digital convenience lies a bigger concern: privacy without protection and innovation without oversight.

The e-passport may be India's flashiest tech reform since Aadhaar, but it risks repeating the same mistakes unless consumer rights are built into its core. Once stored, biometric data is hard to contain. A chip that holds your fingerprints, iris scan, and facial recognition data might get you through immigration faster. However, it could also open the door to government surveillance, misuse, and even exclusion.

Let's not forget what happened with the government programme Aadhaar. Introduced in 2009 as a voluntary biometric ID system to improve welfare delivery and eliminate duplicate beneficiaries, it quickly morphed into a de facto requirement for everything from bank accounts to rations. While the intention was inclusion, the reality was far messier.