Home » Government Documents » Aadhaar Card » UIDAI to introduce dummy numbers to Aadhaar Card holders to avoid data leaks

UIDAI to introduce dummy numbers to Aadhaar Card holders to avoid data leaks

As per the reports, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has introduced a process of dummy numbers which will be given to the Aadhaar Card holders in order to deal with the problem of data leak.

As Government’s flagship program Aadhaar is facing various issues and the main focus is on privacy issue i.e. it violates the right to privacy as it leaks the personal data. Hence, to rectify this issue, UIDAI is evaluating the framework of providing pseudo numbers to the card – holder. Also these numbers can be used for every that purpose for which an Aadhaar is essential.

Instead of providing the Aadhaar number for which an Aadhaar is essential, one can provide these dummy numbers to the government agencies, private utilities, banks and moving funds from the banks from one bank account to another by using these dummy numbers to avail the services.

However, this idea is yet to be implemented and in talks with senior levels in UIDAI and has not been finalised yet.

However, the outcome of this idea is still indefinite as the sole purpose of this document is to provide unique identification and with dummy numbers the purpose will be diminished. Also, as Aadhaar numbers are used for the authentication and verification purpose. However, with the introduction of dummy numbers, it would be difficult to trace a person or his activity.

One of the UIDAI official said that the launch of these dummy numbers and the frequency at which it can be generated depends on the design architecture of the system.

It may not help if a permanent dummy number is given against every Aadhaar number. The primary job of Aadhaar is authentication — to ensure whether the right person is using the services. So, if there can be a dynamic system where an individual authenticates with the electricity company using one dummy number, with the telephone company using another dummy number, and generates new dummy numbers for monetary transactions like one time passwords (OTPs), then there is no one Aadhaar number that can be traced back to the person. And, in the absence of a single number, it is very difficult to misuse Aadhaar to track someone’s personal data.

UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) is a statutory authority, which is launched by the Planning Commission in order to ensure that each resident of India would receive a unique form of identification.

It also conducts security audits on a regular basis to further strengthen security and privacy of data. It also makes sure to make the data safer and protected.

This organization is currently finds itself in a situation where the provisions of the very law (Aadhaar Act 2016) under which it was established has been challenged in the country’s highest court of law.

Recently, Supreme Court has passed a historic judgement that ‘Right to Privacy‘ is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Right to Privacy is an integral part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty Guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution.

To read more about the judgement read – https://rupeenomics.com/verdict-aadhaar-right-privacy-case

However, the constitution bench is yet to say anything categorically on biometrics for Aadhaar.

To know more about the Aadhaar privacy case read – https://rupeenomics.com/aadhaar-privacy-case-july-26th-hearing


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles