Delhi High Court Petition Raises Concerns Over Travel Companies’ Handling of Customer Data

A recent petition filed in the Delhi High Court has brought attention to the potential misuse of customer data by prominent travel booking platforms, including MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, and Skyscanner. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, urges the central government to take action to prevent these companies from sharing sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, Aadhar numbers, and passport details.

Upadhyay’s petition emphasizes that the personal data collected during ticket bookings should be treated as confidential, and the government has a responsibility to ensure that travel companies do not compromise customer privacy. Notably, the PIL raises concerns about the involvement of Chinese investors in MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, and Skyscanner.

Referencing Section 3 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), the plea asserts that the government must clarify and enforce measures for data protection, particularly concerning overseas travel companies serving Indian customers. Upadhyay stresses the importance of upholding customers’ right to privacy, especially regarding sensitive information like Aadhar and passport details.

The petitioner also invokes the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict in the Justice KS Puttaswamy (Retd) case, which underscored the significance of government-issued identity cards and the imperative for robust privacy regulations under Article 21.