Aadhaar related news and discussion

Flash

Lost in speed
The Tribune newspaper said its reporters were able to access names, email addresses, phone numbers and postal codes by typing in 12-digit unique identification numbers of people in the government's database, after paying an individual about $8.

For another $5, the newspaper said, the individual offered reporters software to print out unique identification cards, called Aadhaar cards, that can be used to access various government services including fuel subsidies and free school meals.

Source: Aadhaar Breach Risks Identity Theft For 1 Billion Indians: Foreign Media
 

whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
And that is why it is not a good idea to trust sensational news because almost always it is false(just like those "you have won iphone 8" messages & calls):
Reports of massive Aadhaar data breach are false: UIDAI | Legal Era

As UIDAI reported & that which really matters,"there is no breach of biometric data".
 

billubakra

Conversation Architect
And that is why it is not a good idea to trust sensational news because almost always it is false(just like those "you have won iphone 8" messages & calls):
Reports of massive Aadhaar data breach are false: UIDAI | Legal Era

As UIDAI reported & that which really matters,"there is no breach of biometric data".

Do you believe "them"?
 

billubakra

Conversation Architect
FIR against reporter who investigated Aadhaar data breach is an attack on free press, says Editors Guild
A case was also lodged against the wire when they revealed about Shah's sons company's 16000x profit. No need to debate now uidai fcked up.
 

whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
Case against reporter might be unjustified but case against wire certainly isn't as it comes under personal defamation & every Indian citizen including Amit Shah has the right to file a defamation case.
 

Anorion

Sith Lord
Staff member
Admin
1. UIDAI is following all the data protection guidelines as they exist in their current form. These reports are making a fuss about this or that being available, sounding alarm bells saying personal data is being sold for so cheap, but not bothering to specify which laws are being broken here. I am not supporting UIDAI here, just pointing out that raging over sharing of data does not make sense when there are no comprehensive data protection laws in place.
2. In this context, I can see why the case was filed. People might get misled. It is important to understand how UIDAI and Aadhaar works before writing stories like this, or obviously you are asking for trouble.
3. The UIDAI has never made a mistake, ever. They have isolated themselves from any form of criticism whatsoever. The problems with the various linkings are the fault of individual departments, IT or Telecom or whatever. The problems with the breaches and leaks are attributed to the vendors, and are harshly dealt with according to the act drawn up by the UIDAI itself.
 

Anorion

Sith Lord
Staff member
Admin
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Press Note 07.01.2018
New Delhi.


Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said today that in the recent case of The Tribune’s report in which an FIR is filed, an impression is being created in media that UIDAI is targeting the media or whistleblowers or “shooting the messenger”. This is not at all true. This is a case in which even though there was no breach of Aadhaar biometric database, because UIDAI takes every criminal violation seriously, it is for the act of unauthorized access, criminal proceedings have been initiated. UIDAI respects Free Speech including the Freedom of Press and Media. However UIDAI’s act of filing an FIR with full details of the incident should not be viewed as UIDAI targeting the media or the whistle-blowers or “shooting the messenger”. It has to be understood that whenever a crime is noticed, the concerned person is required to report in the form of FIR (First Information Report) to police in which the entire details of the crime and the incident have to be disclosed to the police. The full details of the incident as available needs to be provided with the names of persons known or unknown connected with the incident in the FIR complaint so that police or the investigating agency can take up a full and fair investigation and bring the culprits to justice. It does not necessarily mean that everyone mentioned in the FIR is a culprit unless after a thorough and fair investigation the person is chargesheeted and proved to be guilty beyond doubt in the court of law. But all those who have been there in the chain of incident in which the crime has been committed, have to be mentioned including unknowns in the FIR so that police can make proper investigation in the interest of justice. In this case, UIDAI filed a complaint on 4th Jan. 2018 with full details of everyone involved in the incident on which an FIR no. 9/18 of PS Crime branch dated 5/1/2018 has been registered in Cyber Cell of Delhi Police against Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Raj, Rachna Khaira, The Tribune and other unknown persons for violations of Section 36 and 37 of Aadhaar Act, 2016, Section 419, 420, 468 and 471 of IPC and Section 66 of IT Act, 2000/8. UIDAI is duty bound to disclose all the details of the case, which was in its knowledge at the time of filing the FIR, and name everyone who is an active participant in the chain of the events leading to commission of the crime , regardless whether the person is a journalist or anyone else, so that police can conduct proper investigation and bring the real culprit to justice. It does not mean that all those who are named in the report are necessarily guilty or being targeted. Whether one is guilty or not will be decided after police investigations and trial. UIDAI would like to reassure everyone that there has absolutely been no breach of Aadhaar biometric database in any manner whatsoever. It also holds that the said Tribune report of Billion Aadhaar details on sale for Rs500 is clearly a case of misreporting being incorrect and misleading..

*uidai.gov.in/images/news/Press_release_ver_07012018.pdf
 

Desmond

Destroy Erase Improve
Staff member
Admin
Arrest Aadhaar authorities, not journalist who exposed data breach: Edward Snowden - Times of India
 

Anorion

Sith Lord
Staff member
Admin
This is exactly the problem. There is zero understanding of how Aadhaar works, what the data privacy laws and regulations in India are, what constitutes a breach, and what is a malpractice. It was misreporting because it could be misinterpreted. And it was, there was no breach. The FIR was filed to initiate the process of investigation, in accordance with the Aadhaar act. It does not mean that the UIDAI is personally interested in putting the journalist into jail.
 
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bssunilreddy

Chosen of the Omnissiah
Probe UIDAI, not scribe, for Aadhaar breach: Edward Snowden


NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is responsible for "policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians", American whistleblower-in-exile Edward Snowden said on Tuesday.
"The journalists exposing the #Aadhaar breach deserve an award, not an investigation. If the government were truly concerned for justice, they would be reforming the policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians," Snowden tweeted.

"Want to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI," Snowden tweeted in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, India time. "Edward Snowden" was trending on Twitter in India by Tuesday afternoon.

*timesofindia.indiatimes.com/img/62436394/Master.jpg


Snowden was responding to reports of UIDAI having filed an FIR in the case of a breach revealed by The Tribune newspaper last week. This is the privacy hawk's second tweet in four days on the biometric identity system.

Snowden's latest volley comes after his tweet last Friday, where he said, "It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse."

On Sunday, UIDAI had filed an FIR with the Delhi Police cyber cell, naming 'The Tribune' and its journalist for the daily's story demonstrating how admin access to Aadhaar data could be bought for as little as Rs 500.

Modi govt is targeting freedom of press and let me remind you that TEHELKA OWNER who exposed BJP last time is still in litigation ... whisle blowers are the one targeted by politicians all the time ... Read Moredalitawaaj
However, UIDAI said, its "act of filing an FIR with full details of the incident should not be viewed as UIDAI targeting the media or the whistleblowers or 'shooting the messenger'."

In June 2013, Snowden blew the whistle on a large-scale global surveillance programme run by the US government. Indian missions in the US were also revealed to have been snooped on as part of the programme that sent shockwaves through the international community when it came to light. The 34-year-old has been living in Moscow on asylum since the 2013 revelations. Last year, Russia extended his asylum until 2020.

Source:Probe UIDAI, not scribe, for Aadhaar breach: Edward Snowden - Times of India
 

Desmond

Destroy Erase Improve
Staff member
Admin
PSA: For those who hate Aadhar, January 31st is the last day for.. • r/india

Making submissions to the Justice Sri Krishna Committee. This committee is drafting our new data protection law and has published a 243 page white paper on the proposed law open for public comments. For those of you who care, please read this white paper and make submission to the committee since this law is likely to apply to the government's handling of our data also. I'm frankly surprised how little attention its getting.

Link to the white paper along with instructions on how to respond are here

White Paper on Data Protection framework for India - Public Comments invited | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

Edit: I am glad this reached the front page!. There needs to be more awareness about this. As I said, I am very surprised that few people know about this. Even the media has not been reporting on this adequately. For journalists who use r/India for story ideas (ScoopWhoop, Buzzfeed, HuffPost, I am looking at you :p), please share this and post stories on this. This is an epochal moment for data protection law in India and ignorance at this hour is NOT bliss!. Please encourage as many of your readers/friends etc. as possible to participate in this consultative process.

People keep saying India is the largest democracy. The time has now come to participate in this democracy.

Looks like a lot of people don't like Aadhar.
 
OP
Flash

Flash

Lost in speed
"Orchestrated Campaign To Malign Aadhaar": Ex-UIDAI Chief Nandan Nilekani

So, the creator spoke.
Nandan Nilekani said the issue has been blown out of proportion as Aadhaar have built far too many security layers and it is not possible to randomly pore it.

I guess govt will accept the flaws, only if aadhar details of some top level politicians are leaked.

lets rename this thread specifically for Aadhar discussion.
 
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