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

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

13420 - Aadhaar Articles Dated 2nd May 2018


Aadhaar not must for mobile SIM, says govt
Times of India
NEW DELHI: Here's some good news for consumers struggling to get a mobile phone SIM without an Aadhaar card. The government has issued instructions to operators to accept alternative identification documents such as driving licence, passport and voter ID card. Mobile companies have been asked ...

Aadhaar not mandatory for mobile SIMs, you can submit other documents too - Economic Times

Operators Directed To Accept Documents Other Than Aadhaar For Mobile SIMs: Telecom ... - Live Law

Aadhaar is not mandatory for mobile SIM verification, other identification methods allowed too says ... - Firstpost


Aadhaar data leaks: Andhra govt begins audit of department websites
The News Minute
Days after an independent researcher highlighted cases of Aadhaar details of citizens that were leaked online, the Andhra Pradesh government has started remedial measures. According to reports, the AP Cyber Security Operations Centre (Cyber SOC) based in Visakhapatnam has taken over various ...





Cracked Aadhaar Enrolment Software Being Sold for Rs 500 to Rs 2000: Report
The Wire
If correct, this cracked software could allow anyone to create new Aadhaar numbers without accompanying identity proof or documentation, leading to major national security implications. The official enrolment software, known as ECMP, was developed to allow authorised operators to register people so ...

Cracked Aadhaar enrollment and updation software for sale on the black market: Report - MediaNama.com

Aadhaar for Sale: Tools to Bypass Biometric Security Reportedly Available Online - Beebom (blog)

Aadhaar enrollment software compromised, bypasses biometric, geo-location safeguards: Report - TimesNow\


Aadhaar biometric data is 100% secure, says India's cybersecurity chief
The Hindu
Despite a series of government website failures, and the Supreme Court hearings over Aadhaar data security and privacy, India's cybersecurity chief, Chief Information Security Officer in the Prime Minister's Office Gulshan Rai tells The Hindu he is confident of India's cybersecurity systems, and says the ...





Another Aadhaar howler? EPFO data stolen by hackers
Moneycontrol.com
Vulnerabilities related to the security of Aadhaar data once again came to the fore following reports of hackers stealing EPFO data. In a letter dated March 23, Central Provident Fund Commissioner, VP Joy, said that the Intelligence Bureau had provided leads of "hackers exploiting the vulnerabilities ...

Data Theft Concerns Prompt EPFO to Pull Down Aadhaar Seeding Portal - The Wire

EPFO temporarily shuts Aadhaar seeding portal after reports of data theft - Business Standard

Aadhaar EPFO services website vulnerabilities exploited by hackers giving them access to ... - Firstpost


Aadhaar-PAN link helps track dodgy deals worth Rs 33000cr
Times of India
NEW DELHI: Linking Aadhaar and permanent account number or PAN has helped the tax department track high-value transactions of Rs 33,000 crore, which were sought to be suppressed by individuals who now face the risk of action if the department finds evidence suggesting transactions do not ...





Aadhaar enrollment software being illegally distributed with biometric safeguards disabled
Biometric Update
The Aadhaar program's ECMP enrollment software is being distributed illegally for 500 to 2,000 rupees (US$7.50 to $30) in the latest data privacy headache for the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Asia Times reports. The software protects data by verifying the biometrics of the authorized ...





Compromised Aadhaar enrolment software being sold for as little as Rs 500: Report
Business Today
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has usually been quick to refute most reports of Aadhaar database breaches and leaks. But at a time when a far more serious security threat is reportedly looming in the enrolment side of things, the authority tasked with issuing the unique ID number is ...





AP govt removes Aadhaar number of women beneficiaries from WCW website
Times of India
It was found that the government had provided the Aadhaar numbers of 4.8 lakh women beneficiaries, both pregnant and lactating mothers, who have been receiving nutritious food from the Anganwadi centers across the state. The women visit the Anganwadi centers every day to receive the food ...





EPFO slams Aadhaar data theft reports on social media
Economic Times
There was news doing the rounds earlier on in the day that Aadhaar data of subscribers of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has been stolen by hackers. On social media, there was secret letter alegedly written by VP Joy, the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, on March 23 ...





Now, cardless, pinless banking possible with Aadhaar Micro ATMs – What is it and how it works?
Financial Express
UIDAI recently took to Twitter and posted that over 58 crore individuals can do banking transactions without using ATM card or PIN. It will be possible by using Aadhaar micro ATMs (Automatic trailer machines). “Card-less and Pin-less banking possible with Aadhaar Micro ATMs. – Bank Mitr brings basic ...





'Aadhaar biometric data is 100% secure'
The Hindu
Despite a series of government website failures and Supreme Court hearings over Aadhaar data security and privacy, India's cybersecurity chief, Gulshan Rai, who is the Chief Information Security Officer in the Prime Minister's Office, says he is confident of India's cybersecurity systems, and wants the ...





No Aadhaar link puts 4.6 Lakh farmers in a spot
Times of India
No Aadhaar link puts 4.6 Lakh farmers in a spot ... HYDERABAD: Even as the TRS government is going full steam ahead on implementing the much-touted Rythu Bandhu scheme, 4.6 lakh farmers are yet to link their Aadhaar cards with government records to avail themselves of the benefit of 4,000 per ...







Aadhaar not mandatory for mobile SIM, says govt
Economic Times
Aadhaar not mandatory for mobile SIM, says govt. Mirror Now | May 2, 2018, 12.06 PM IST. Post a Comment. Copy URL. Embed ... You don't need an Aadhaar card to get a mobile SIM. The Centre has directed telecom companies to start accepting alternative documents such as driving licence, passport ...





Aadhaar not mandatory for mobile SIMs, other identification documents allowed
Sify News
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday clarified that consumers can get SIM cards by providing alternative identification documents such as driving licence, passport and voter ID card even without submitting Aadhaar, the 12-digit identification number issued by Unique Identification Authority of ...





You Need to Quote Your Aadhaar Number For Filing Income Tax Return
India.com
The income tax filing season has started and the question on many people's mind is whether they still need to link the Aadhaar number with their PAN card. The confusion has been created due to multiple deadlines been given on the matter of linking of two numbers.

Using Aadhaar-PAN linking, IT department tracks high-value transactions worth Rs 33000 crore - Times Now
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