Indian officials in charge of a controversial biometric identity scheme have filed a police complaint after a report that citizens’ personal details were being sold for as little as 500 rupees ($7.8;\u00a35.8) online.<\/p>\n
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) wants a probe into “unauthorised access” to its database.<\/p>\n
But it said biometric data was safe.<\/p>\n
The Tribune newspaper claimed that it bought user details via an “agent” advertising his services on WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
The report is the latest revelation against the UIDAI biometric system known as Aadhaar, which means foundation.<\/p>\n
It said that once it paid the “agent”, its reporters were given a username and password\u00a0that allowed them to enter any Aadhaar number into the UIDAI website and get access to user information including name, address, photo, phone number and email address.<\/p>\n
The report added that payment of a further 300 rupees provided “software” that allowed them to print out any Aadhaar card for which they had the number.<\/p>\n
The UIDAI says the breach seems to be a misuse of a grievance redressal scheme that allowed Aadhaar agents to rectify issues like a change in address and wrong spelling of a person’s name.<\/p>\n
However, it added that the scheme did not grant access to people’s biometric details.<\/p>\n
The revelations in the report made headlines in India, with many on social media expressing concern over the security of their personal data.<\/p>\n
Aadhaar started out as a voluntary programme to help tackle benefit fraud, but recently it has been made mandatory for access to welfare schemes.<\/p>\n
Critics have repeatedly warned that the scheme puts personal information at risk” and have criticised government efforts to compulsorily link it to bank accounts and mobile phone numbers.<\/p>\n
The government has always insisted that the biometric data is “safe and secure in encrypted form”, and anybody found guilty of leaking data can be jailed and fined.<\/p>\n
A case challenging its mandatory linking to schemes and bank accounts is pending before the country’s Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Indian officials in charge of a controversial biometric identity scheme have filed a police complaint after a report that citizens’ personal details were being sold for as little as 500 rupees ($7.8;\u00a35.8) online. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) wants a probe into “unauthorised access” to its database. But it said biometric data was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":389122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[106],"tags":[516],"yoast_head":"\n