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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

12750 - User finds Aadhaar linked to 9 unknown numbers, UIDAI gives a flippant reply - The News Minute

User finds Aadhaar linked to 9 unknown numbers, UIDAI gives a flippant reply
The user’s mobile operator later clarified that there was only one linked connection and had provided wrong information due to a ‘coding glitch’.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) continues to maintain its stance that Aadhaar is a secure system and has no security loopholes, despite many Twitter users flagging concerns.
In one such instance, Twitter user @PRIYARD went to an Airtel store in order to link her number, the only one she has had since 2000, to her Aadhaar card. However, she got the shock of her life when the mobile network operator informed her that there were already nine other connections linked to her Aadhaar card.

P R D
@PRIYARD

The biggest shock of my life!!!

Went to an Airtel store to get AADHAAR linked to the single mobile number i have been using since 2000.
Was told there are 9 connections already linked to my AADHAAR!


What the hell is happening? @Airtel_Presence @airtelindia @UIDAI
10:34 PM - Jan 16, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy
This triggered a flood of reactions on Twitter.


Meghnad
✔
@Memeghnad

P: My Aadhaar is linked to unknown SIMs!
UIDAI: Yeah well at least you found out.

P: But what about the SIMs?
UIDAI: Not our problem, ask the phone company lol.

P: But MY AADHAAR WAS MISUSED!
UIDAI: By the company... not us. So... not our problem! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/42iZLZ7ESI
1:43 AM - Jan 22, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy


Rita Banerji   #AadhaarWarOnWomen
✔
@Rita_Banerji

Most people probably don't even know how many have linked their mobiles (or bank accounts) or hospital records to their Aadhaar. And don't trust the UIDAI will tell them the truth even if it knew! pic.twitter.com/4bZX2bxspv
5:19 AM - Jan 22, 2018
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James Wilson
@jamewils

Noble intentions and ultimate of Aadhaar...

It will enable you to realise how many people obtained SIM cards by duping your Aadhaar card & biometrics..

See knowledge is strength and it is really empowering you 
https://
twitter.com/UIDAI/status/9
54921250438070272 
…
12:53 PM - Jan 22, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Responding to the user, UIDAI tweeted: “At least the Aadhaar holder knows how many mobiles are linked to his/her Aadhaar number. In such cases one can complain against the mobile company to TRAI or TERM cell of DOT for fraudulently issuing SIM against their Aadhaar Number.”
UIDAI additionally tweeted that earlier there was no way of knowing how many numbers were issued on the basis of the documents submitted by any subscriber.


Aadhaar
✔
@UIDAI
Replying to @PRIYARD and 2 others

At least the Aadhaar holder knows how many mobiles are linked to his/her Aadhaar number. In such cases one can complain against the mobile company to TRAI or TERM cell of DOT for fraudulently issuing SIM against their Aadhaar Number. 1/3
2:38 PM - Jan 21, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy


Aadhaar
✔
@UIDAI
Replying to @UIDAI and 3 others

The mobile company must provide evidence as to when and how these mobiles were linked to the Aadhaar Number, or face action for fraudulent acts by its employees. 2/3
2:38 PM - Jan 21, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy


Aadhaar
✔
@UIDAI
Replying to @UIDAI and 3 others

In earlier system, there was no way of knowing how many hundred of SIM cards were issued on the basis of identity documents submitted by a person without their knowledge. 3/3
2:39 PM - Jan 21, 2018
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The government has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar cards to mobile SIMs by March 31. However, this may change as the Supreme Court is presently hearing petitions that challenge the validity of Aadhaar.
Airtel later got back to the Twitter user and said there was only one connection linked to the user’s Aadhaar card. The user was informed that the mobile operator provided her incorrect information due to a ‘software coding glitch’.


Bharti Airtel India
✔
@Airtel_Presence
Replying to @PRIYARD and 2 others

Thank you for your patience. We confirm that there is only one connection in your name. No mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar number. We will resolve your concern as per our discussion with you. Thank you, Nitin
3:33 PM - Jan 22, 2018
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P R D
@PRIYARD

This is the latest update from Airtel. According to them, there's been no data breach/leak/theft of Aadhaar!
The message i received was an Airtel software coding glitch which they are trying to resolve! 
https://
twitter.com/Airtel_Presenc
e/status/955297399508934658 
…
5:18 PM - Jan 22, 2018
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UIDAI, too, later responded to the tweet, saying they had contacted Airtel regarding the issue.
21 Jan

P R D
@PRIYARD
Replying to @DilliDurAst and 3 others
Received a call from Airtel HO sometime back. They are looking into the matter.


Aadhaar
✔
@UIDAI

We had a conversation with Airtel. They confirmed that they contacted you and you told them to contact you after 25 Jan. 1/2 @PMOIndia @OfficeOfRSP @rajeev_mp @FinMinIndia @MirrorNow
9:44 PM - Jan 21, 2018
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Aadhaar
✔
@UIDAI
Replying to @UIDAI and 9 others

Considering the urgency of the matter, pls share your Airtel mob. no. and other details like the Airtel service centre where you visited for linking/ verification of your mobile no. This will help in nabbing the culprits. 2/2 @ceo_uidai @ndtv
9:44 PM - Jan 21, 2018
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Earlier this month, a report published in The Tribune claimed that it took just Rs 500 and 10 minutes for the newspaper to get access through an “agent” to every detail that any individual had submitted to the UIDAI, including their name, address, postal code (PIN), photo, phone number and email. The newspaper said it paid another Rs 300, for which the “agent” provided “software” to facilitate the printing of the Aadhaar card after entering the Aadhaar number of any individual.




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