Credentials of Unique Identification Number under scanner

Legal notices to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) are questioning its credentials to begin the process of acquiring biometric data of people to provide them the 12-digit UID number even before a law on UID comes into force.

Two legal notices issued to UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani on July 5 and July 6 also raise concerns over UID numbers invading the privacy of individuals as these are for multi-utility service use, and would force individuals to leave trails, allowing invasion of their privacy.

Mathew Thomas, general secretary, Citizens’ Action Forum, and VK Somashekhar, founder patron, Coordinated Action of Consumer and Voluntary Organisations of Karnataka (CACVOK), have separately issued legal notices to Nilekani on Tuesday and Wednesday through their respective advocates, BT Venkatesh, and A Mahabaleshwara Bhat, a former additional central government standing high court counsel.

The notices aim to mobilise the country against the UIDAI, which, they say, has begun the process of enrolling citizens with UID numbers without waiting for the bill’s enactment in Parliament, Venkatesh, Mathew and Somashekhar alleged on Thursday.

“The bill is still with the standing committee on finance. With whose authority has the UIDAI started enrolling?” said Mathew.
“Without a final project report, the UIDAI is randomly signing contracts and paying crores to private agencies for the works,” Venkatesh said. “Is there a guarantee that the private agencies will not misuse the data?”

Mathew said, “The UIDAI says gas connection, bank accounts and utility billings will be linked through the 12-digit UID number. Wherever you go and whatever you buy, your biometric detail will leave information about your private life for the state. Isn’t it a threat to individual privacy then?”

Ashok Dalwai, deputy director general, technology centre, UIDAI, said: “We have taken care of security, confidentiality and privacy aspects that people are worried about.”

Venkatesh said they would file suits against UIDAI if the authority failed to reply within ten days.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_credentials-of-unique-identification-number-under-scanner_1563518