Right to privacy activists demand proposed unified card be kept in abeyance
Privacy advocacy groups, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have urged the Telangana government to halt the implementation of a proposed unified welfare card. They argue the scheme lacks a legal framework and fails to meet constitutional privacy standards established by the Supreme Court.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing conflict between state-led digital welfare initiatives and data privacy rights in India.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and, city-based NGO, ASEEM demanded that the proposed unified card be kept in abeyance due to the absence of a legal framework. They said they have submitted a representation to the State government.
In May this year, the Telangana Chief Minister directed officials to explore the possibility of developing a unified card that would extend benefits across welfare schemes being implemented in the State. According to the Chief Minister, the objective was to build welfare profiles of beneficiaries and bring about greater transparency in implementation by analysing data using artificial intelligence.
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