BJP Brands Report of Aadhaar Info Being Compromised as “Fake News”

The BJP stated that Aadhaar data is fully secure with “robust world class security”

Aadhaar information of over a billion people has been supposedly compromised, as per an investigative report by The Tribune. According to the daily, buying access to sensitive information is neither difficult, nor expensive. Just by paying Rs 500 via Paytm, one can get unrestricted access to details of one billion Aadhaar numbers created in India so far.

However, the BJP put out a statement calling the report “fake news” and stated that Aadhaar data is fully secure with “world class robust security”. This followed the UIDAI’s statement claiming it has complete traceability of the data.

Tribune's report suggesting the data breach at @UIDAI is fake news! pic.twitter.com/qtOzNIq7zH

— BJP (@BJP4India) January 4, 2018

However, the PM had a very different stance on the Aadhaar a few years ago, when the Congress had introduced it, and had not shied away from making his opinion heard on the internet.

On Aadhaar, neither the Team that I met nor PM could answer my Qs on security threat it can pose. There is no vision, only political gimmick

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 8, 2014

Following the news break, access to the Aadhaar portal was temporarily unavailable.

People React Angrily to the News

Netizens took to Twitter to criticise the UIDAI’s system.

The identities of over 1 billion Indians compromised forever, thanks to the Modi govt’s “vision”. Just the iceberg tip. https://t.co/9g3x4CtHHh

— Rohin Dharmakumar (@r0h1n) January 4, 2018

Wonder if this will finally lead to the Supreme Court seeing the truth about #Aadhar & scrapping it, once and for all

— Tanmay V. Pangam (@theangrysaint) January 4, 2018

Heres another story of #Aadhaar data being accessed / breached - Breach of privacy n also cud be a case negligence by @UIDAI - dear @rsprasad @PMOIndia https://t.co/jrmGc4HtbA

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) January 4, 2018

Ever wondered how a Pakistani (or anyone with a little jugaad) can get an #Aadhaar card while some unfortunate souls continue to die for not having one?🤔@thetribunechd with perhaps the biggest scam story of the year.https://t.co/q9kzOseG51 pic.twitter.com/BtF1cZsZ4j

— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee) January 4, 2018

The @UIDAI has zero credibility left. #Aadhaar is one giant cowpat. We all need to wipe off our shoes and get on with life. https://t.co/6Q9iudnQkB via @thetribunechd

— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) January 4, 2018

If #Aadhaar details are being sold online by touts for Rs 500, it's a major breach of national security. But knowing this govt & their fanboys in the media it will become a debate over nationalism. And those who exposed it may be punished! https://t.co/oOn6DKppGF

— Madhuri Danthala (@Madhuism_) January 4, 2018

Multiple people warned @UIDAI about the high possibility of breaches. They are always in denial. Expect more denials. #Aadhaar https://t.co/Yhzq6HxKjH

— Srinivas Kodali | శ్రీనివాస్ కొడాలి (@digitaldutta) January 4, 2018

If true, the cost/lead is not even Rs0.001. That makes it the cheapest database in the country. Just how many logins would you be selling to profit @ Rs500 a pop? #Aadhaar https://t.co/PUgeWYKmLM

— Salil (@sa_lil) January 4, 2018

Breach in UIDAI's #Aadhaar bank was waiting to happen, the question wasn't why or how but when.@Rita_Banerji @boredknees @AnupamSaraph adding u to this thread i did last summer.https://t.co/0oLFbK4FSd

— i Dev (@i_dev_D) January 4, 2018

As a friend shared this gem, which clearly depicts what #AadhaarDracula has became!

"#Aadhaar is a mad dog that has bitten an already rabid government"

— James Wilson (@jamewils) January 4, 2018

Some are surprised at how cheap the information supposedly is:

For ₹500! Forget intrusion of privacy I am mad that it's sold for such a cheap price. Add two more zeros! Total disrespect for market value. Should be priced at least ₹50,000 after all it's a billion data. #AadhaarFail https://t.co/nh8kRb30go

— ruralogy (@ruralogy) January 4, 2018

Aadhaar details of over a billion people available for Rs. 500?
Oh No! The government may now try to fix this by banning 500 rupee notes.https://t.co/HZjDTsSB0P

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 4, 2018

Now we need a #BlackMirror episode on our very own #Aadhaar breach.

— Deeksha Sharma (@tedhikheer29) January 4, 2018