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IFF has filed multiple Right to Information requests with various governmental authorities to extract all relevant information pertaining to @SetuAarogya
@GoI_MeitY @NICMeity @NITIAayog @MoHFW_INDIA
1/n https://internetfreedom.in/aarogya-setu-through-the-right-to-information-lens/
@GoI_MeitY @NICMeity @NITIAayog @MoHFW_INDIA
1/n https://internetfreedom.in/aarogya-setu-through-the-right-to-information-lens/
In this blogpost, we have comprehensively analysed all the responses that we have received up till now including this from the @MoHFW_INDIA and @GoI_MeitY which shows their non-involvement with the application.
2/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1254729501839245314
2/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1254729501839245314
We received a reply from @NICMeity to our RTI requests on May 7, 2020 in which they also failed to adequately respond to our queries.
3/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1258393390758031363?s=09
3/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1258393390758031363?s=09
We also filed an RTI request asking for the source code of the application.
4/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1258334950442414080
4/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1258334950442414080
Additionally, an IFF community member filed a RTI request dated May 6, 2020 in which he asked for the source code of @SetuAarogya. In NIC’s reply dated May 13, 2020, they refused to reveal the source code citing S.8(1)(d) of the RTI Act.
5/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1260584436489506818
5/n https://twitter.com/internetfreedom/status/1260584436489506818
However, in a clear departure from its previous stance, yesterday MeitY issued a public statement in which they said that the application will be made open source.
6/n https://twitter.com/SetuAarogya/status/1265281058532016128?s=09
6/n https://twitter.com/SetuAarogya/status/1265281058532016128?s=09
The source code of the application was made available on @github by the Government at 12 AM on May 27, 2020.
7/n https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/centre-shifts-stance-releases-source-code-for-aarogya-setu-app-6428741/
7/n https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/centre-shifts-stance-releases-source-code-for-aarogya-setu-app-6428741/
On May 11, 2020 the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the Aarogya Setu Data Access and Knowledge Sharing Protocol, 2020 (“The Protocol”).
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https://meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Aarogya_Setu_data_access_knowledge_Protocol.pdf
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https://meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Aarogya_Setu_data_access_knowledge_Protocol.pdf
On May 13, 2020 we filed an RTI request pertaining to the Protocol. In it we asked about the composition and members of the Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management who were involved in drafting the protocol and if any legal opinion was sought to draft the protocol.
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We also filed a RTI request with IIT Madras asking about their involvement with the application since it was indicated in official documents that they have access to the data collected through the application.
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The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy @Vidhi_India has been involved in drafting the Aarogya Setu Data Access and Knowledge Sharing Protocol, 2020.
11/n https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/2020/05/11/aarogya-setus-data-access-and-knowledge-sharing-protocol-2020/?utm_content=bufferad954&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
11/n https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/2020/05/11/aarogya-setus-data-access-and-knowledge-sharing-protocol-2020/?utm_content=bufferad954&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Subsequently, there was talk among the community that they have also shared a legal opinion with the Government.
12/n https://twitter.com/Arghya_justify/status/1262312246979379200
12/n https://twitter.com/Arghya_justify/status/1262312246979379200
On May 25, 2020 we filed a RTI request on the basis of this tweet by Vidhi’s Research Director asking for a copy of the legal opinion provided by him or other employees of @Vidhi_India.
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We also asked for a copy of all the subsequent correspondence that took place between the government and @arghya_justify, @KLalitesh and @matthan, who have been named in a previous tweet as having been involved.
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Since there was no public debate which was held before the deployment of @SetuAarogya, it becomes even more imperative to ensure that accountability is demanded from the government by mobilizing mechanisms such as the RTI Act.
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