Posted on November 25, 2010 by Pritesh N Munjal
Aadhar project was initially portrayed as a welfare scheme with paramount benefits. While none can doubt the benefits that Aadhar project would bring but these benefits are possible only if Aadhar project is a genuine and legally sustainable project. Presently Aadhar project is neither a genuine project nor it is a legal and constitutionally sustainable project.
Unique identification authority of India (UIDAI) was formulated to give effect to Aadhar project. Surprisingly, from the very beginning there is no clear cut policy and strategy that has been adopted by UIDAI. Further, even if some half baked policy were suggested by UIDAI they were not followed subsequently. For instance, the use of proprietary software by UIDAI is a clear deviation form it’s no vendor lock in approach.
Further, by attaching various limitations and disqualifications for non registration with the Aadhar project, it has been made mandatory indirectly. This is an arm twisting technique adopted by the Aadhar project.
Interestingly projects similar to Aadhar have been rejected in countries like US and UK with a much advanced economy and far lesser population. India on the other hand has jumped upon a project that is bound to fail.
So what is the real purpose of Aadhar project and UIDAI? The real purpose of Aadhar project is to strengthen the e-surveillance capabilities of India. By attaching the biometric details of individuals with the national population register and other e-surveillance projects like Natgrid, CCTNS, etc, absolute e-surveillance machinery has been established in India.
Even the cabinet committee on security and prime minister’s office has adopted an approach of hands off and eyes closed approach. This is the main reason why India is deliberately refraining form enacting privacy laws and data protection laws as with their enactments, e-surveillance activities of India would be regulated.
Although the department of personnel and training of India has displayed an approach paper on data protection yet it may take another 5 years before even the basic privacy law bill would be drafted.
What would you do if your own government betrays you and violated your civil liberties? The answer is very obvious. We must actively deny giving crucial information to UIDAI and protest vehemently against the e-surveillance projects of India. On the technology side, we must use technology as much as possible for safeguarding our privacy rights, right to speech and expression and other civil liberties.
Aadhar project was initially portrayed as a welfare scheme with paramount benefits. While none can doubt the benefits that Aadhar project would bring but these benefits are possible only if Aadhar project is a genuine and legally sustainable project. Presently Aadhar project is neither a genuine project nor it is a legal and constitutionally sustainable project.
Unique identification authority of India (UIDAI) was formulated to give effect to Aadhar project. Surprisingly, from the very beginning there is no clear cut policy and strategy that has been adopted by UIDAI. Further, even if some half baked policy were suggested by UIDAI they were not followed subsequently. For instance, the use of proprietary software by UIDAI is a clear deviation form it’s no vendor lock in approach.
Further, by attaching various limitations and disqualifications for non registration with the Aadhar project, it has been made mandatory indirectly. This is an arm twisting technique adopted by the Aadhar project.
Interestingly projects similar to Aadhar have been rejected in countries like US and UK with a much advanced economy and far lesser population. India on the other hand has jumped upon a project that is bound to fail.
So what is the real purpose of Aadhar project and UIDAI? The real purpose of Aadhar project is to strengthen the e-surveillance capabilities of India. By attaching the biometric details of individuals with the national population register and other e-surveillance projects like Natgrid, CCTNS, etc, absolute e-surveillance machinery has been established in India.
Even the cabinet committee on security and prime minister’s office has adopted an approach of hands off and eyes closed approach. This is the main reason why India is deliberately refraining form enacting privacy laws and data protection laws as with their enactments, e-surveillance activities of India would be regulated.
Although the department of personnel and training of India has displayed an approach paper on data protection yet it may take another 5 years before even the basic privacy law bill would be drafted.
What would you do if your own government betrays you and violated your civil liberties? The answer is very obvious. We must actively deny giving crucial information to UIDAI and protest vehemently against the e-surveillance projects of India. On the technology side, we must use technology as much as possible for safeguarding our privacy rights, right to speech and expression and other civil liberties.
