UID number: Challenges and security concerns
May 13, 2010 09:31 IST
Sunil Chandiramani, Partner and National Director-Advisory Business Leader-Government Services, Ernst & Young (E&Y), with a team of 15 people is busy with India's [ Images ] most ambitious programme of providing a unique identification (UID) number to residents of India.
E&Y has been selected as a consulting partner by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
With just about three months left for UIDAI to have its systems operational, Chandiramani, in a chat with Shivani Shinde, speaks about the role of his firm besides the challenges and security concerns associated with the rollout of UID number. Edited excerpts:
What is the role of E&Y?
We are technology consultants. Our role is to help UIDAI select and procure technology including procuring the managed services provider. We also have to manage the implementation.
This is something we hope to do over the next three years. The work would involve setting up the core - technology and the processes - followed by the rollout. The core work has to be done right and we cannot afford to fail.
So, you have a contract for three years?
No, our contract is for one year and this is the first phase. But even if we don't get the second year contract, the technology would have been procured by that time, and the project implemented. The only piece that would remain would be the rollout. Of course, we would like to be the part of the rollout as well, as that is the most challenging part.
From a rollout perspective, banks, IT department, colleges, insurance firms, schools will be used as registrars. The rollout part is very critical. But before that we have to think of systems that would tackle all the scenarios. Like what happens if someone loses his or her UID number.
Do you think the systems will be ready by August 2010 for the rollout?
I would not yet be ready to comment on the August rollout as yet. We still have to get a few RFPs closed. The crucial among them is the biometric piece. But by the end of May, we need to close all the RFPs.
Which other tenders will come up for bidding?
Some of the request for proposals (RFPs) that have come up are in the application side and biometric segment. We will soon announce RFPs for the managed services provider.
The biggest chunk will be the managed services, as the provider will have to manage the entire repository of data. This will mean that the vendor will have to provide a system and be involved in the de-duplication process. That means every time someone sends a biometric print, the systems need to match them and get back to the person and that too in real-time.
What about security concerns surrounding data and access to it, especially since there are plans to have UIDs online too?
People tend to think that online means access to information on the fly. But that does not mean that any individual can access the data. To give an instance, when it comes to commercial use, any commercial vendor - bank, insurance firms etc - who needs to verify an individual's UID will need to take imprints of fingers and send it to UIDAI asking for authentication.
This is online and real-time. However, UIDAI will not send your finger prints or any other detail. It will just confirm the authenticity of the imprints. Hence, the repository is not accessible to anyone. Besides, adequate measures would be built into the tech systems to ensure that the data are being added to the repository according to the set standards.
A security breach can occur nevertheless...
Use of any technology brings challenges but what matters is, if the security is manageable. I think it is manageable. As an extra security measure, UIDAI has added four digits to the 12-digit number. This PIN-based four-digit identification will be masked. So, at anytime this four-digit number gets changed then everything changes.
Over a time there is a possibility that these kind of information when it is shared could be tracked. We also think there will be more than enough people who will try to get more than one UID or will at least try to get. We are setting rules that if someone intentionally attempts to defraud then there will be penalties and other measures built in.
What about privacy issues?
The concern that arises of this is, who can access this data and where the data will reside. India will also need to have data privacy policy. I think privacy forums need to be formed and this should happen as we roll out. In some cases, there might be a need for regulatory changes and in some cases, for an outreach programme.
Would UIDAI use the census data or the machinery for the rollout?
No, census data will not be used for the UID project as of now. This is because the census team collects name, address and other details by visiting every house. But for UID, we need to capture facial expressions, finger prints and take iris scans. You cannot move around and get this data.
You will have to go to a centre to do it. Over a period of time, the census data might be used. Besides, when the UID gets captured you have to get it right at the first time. The person who will take these details will send the data to UIDAI.
The UIDAI team will check the quality of the data sent and then reject or select it. If this is rejected, the individual will be called again at the centre; it's a long process. Add to this, the centres will need to verify the person and the details they are providing. The census team would not do this detailed work.
How big is the IT opportunity in this project?
I wouldn't know the value but from an opportunity perspective, it's huge. Especially, for the hardware segment. Imagine the number of biometric machine required to capture the data of a billion people, along with the PCs and servers to support this data. Solutions will form a smaller part.
Shivani Shinde in Mumbai
Why this Blog ? News articles in the Wide World of Web, quite often disappear with time, when they are relocated as archives with a different url. Archives in this blog serve as a library for those who are interested in doing Research on Aadhaar Related Topics. Articles are published with details of original publication date and the url.
In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.
On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.
In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.
In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.
In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.
"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi
Ram Krishnaswamy
Sydney, Australia.
Aadhaar
The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018
When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi
In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi
“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi
“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.
Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.
Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha
“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh
But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP
“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.
August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"
“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden
In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.
Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.
Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.
UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy
1) Denial
2) Issue fiats and point finger
3) Shoot messenger
4) Bury head in sand.
God Save India
