Aadhar and its safety – Data Security and Privacy concerns (Prelims, Mains GS2)
Aadhaar and its safety
- The UIDAI is responsible for assigning a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number (Aadhaar) to all Indian citizens.
- Following the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016, the Government of India established the UIDAI on July 12, 2016, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- UIDAI is a statutory authority
Concerns related to Aadhaar
- Misuse of Aadhaar Data-Many private companies in the country require an Aadhaar card, and users frequently share the information.
- There's no indication of how these organisations keep this information private and secure.
- Excessive Imposition:
- Fraud-prone Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS): AePS is a facility that enables someone who has an Aadhaar-linked account to withdraw money from it anywhere in India through biometric authentication with a “business correspondent” – a kind of mini-ATM.
- There have been rampant abuses of this facility by corrupt business correspondents
Concerns with the Right To Privacy (Article 21)
- With the rise of cybercrime and illegal data and information leaks on the internet, one of the most pressing concerns among the public was the Right to Privacy, which is a fundamental right for all citizens of the country.
- In December 2018, the government passed the Data Protection Bill, which was based on a Supreme Court ruling on the right to privacy.
- The government should recognise and address all aspects of the right to privacy, including data security, protection from unauthorised interception, surveillance, the use of personal identifiers, and bodily privacy.
COMMENTS