Indian authorities have asked the police to investigate The Tribune newspaper and one of its reporters after the publication of a report that claimed personal details of Indian citizens, submitted to the country's Aadhaar authority, were being sold cheaply online.
Aadhaar, which means "foundation" is a 12-digit unique ID number issued to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data. It is an ambitious attempt to create a digital resource for controlling what a resident can, and cannot do. It has more than 1.19 billion enrolled members as of 30 November 2017.
The investigation was sought by the so-called Unique Identification Authority of India into the report written by journalist Rachna Khaira and three individuals — Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Raj — who were named by Khaira as sources for her story.
New Delhi police confirmed to the Indian Express newspaper that a first investigation report or FIR had been registered and an investigation had been launched. The FIR is a written document prepared by police when they receive information about the commission of a cognisable offence.
{loadposition sam08}Khaira's story, published on 3 January, said that the newspaper had subscribed to a service on the messaging app WhatsApp which offered unrestricted access to any of the one billion-plus Aadhaar numbers created for Indian citizens.
Totally wrong for UIDAI to file an FIR against the journalist who exposed #AadharLeaks If a loophole is pointed out Govt should work on fixing the flaw rather than try to shoot the messenger. Don’t intimidate journalists. Not on. https://t.co/6mxDrZlrLC
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) 7 January 2018
The story said that for the payment of Rs500 (approximately $10 at today's rates) which was paid through the Paytm payment service, Khaira was provided a login and password in just 10 minutes to access details of any Aadhaar number.
A day after the story appeared, the UIDAI issued an official release, claiming that all Aadhaar data was "fully safe". The FIR was filed the same day.
Journalists are real criminal who are spreading & distributing slow poison in society &weakening the country by projecting all negativity, by fabricating stories & making moutain of mole hills. It is they who ignore good work of the govt and spread misinformation 4 own ego .
— danendra (@dkjain4970) 7 January 2018
The story also said that for the payment of another Rs300 ($6), the payee was provided software that facilitated the printing of the Aadhaar card.
Khaira wrote that she had contacted UIDAI officials in Chandigarh in the state of Punjab who had expressed shock at being told that complete details of individuals was accessible. At the time, they are said to have admitted that it appeared to be a major security breach.
You are right or wrong does not matter but only thing matters is today's stinking journalism where these so called journalist do every thing other than journalism..You never tweeted so fiercely on @TheQuint story on #KulbhushanJadhav @TVMohandasPaihttps://t.co/dIK6ran7Yg
— jspandey (@jspandey_) 8 January 2018
UIDAI's deputy director B.M. Patnaik, who works with the organisation's logistics and grievance redressal department, said in the FIR: "An input has been received through The Tribune dated January 3, 2018, that the ‘The Tribune purchased’ a service being offered by anonymous sellers over WhatsApp that provided unrestricted access to details for any of the more than 1 billion Aadhaar numbers created in India thus far.”