Who created Setu app? CIC raps govt’s ‘lack of info’

Who created Setu app? CIC raps govt’s ‘lack of info’

New Delhi: 29.10.2020 

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued a strongly worded showcause notice to the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) and the National Informatics Centre asking why a penalty under the RTI Act should not be slapped on them for obstructing information regarding the Aarogya Setu app, prompting the ministry to later say that all information was on the app’s website.

The CIC slammed the ministry and NIC for “prima facie obstruction of information and providing an evasive reply” over a query regarding the app. Noting that none of the chief public information officers was able to explain as to who had created the app and where the files were in response to an RTI query filed by complainant Saurav Das, information commissioner Vanaja N Sarna described the responses of MeitY and NIC as “extremely preposterous”. TNN

Activist: Abdication of responsibility

Activist Saurav Das, who filed the appeal with the CIC on Aarogya Setu app, said, “It’s been downloaded by over 150m Indians, but the government says it has no idea who developed it. This is a complete abdication of responsibility.” P 8

Portal has all info on Aarogya Setu, including privacy policy, says govt

The ministry issued a statement to say that as per the orders of the CIC, chief public information officers of MeitY, National E-Governance Division and NIC have been directed to appear on November 24 and MeitY was taking necessary steps to comply with the order. It clarified that “there should be no doubt with regard to the Aarogya Setu app and its role in helping contain Covid-19 pandemic in India”. It stated the app has been developed by NIC in collaboration with volunteers from the industry and academia and all details and documents, including privacy policy, data access and knowledge-sharing protocols issued on May 11, have been uploaded on the portal, aarogyasetu.gov.in.

The RTI applicant sought to know from the government details about creation of app, the law under which it was functioning and whether the government was planning to bring a separate legislation on handling of data collected by the app. Saurav Das then approached the CIC.

Full report on www.toi.in

Times View: Call it the strange case of the missing app creator and ask Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery. The unacceptable reply to the RTI would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. This is not something where we can have the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.