India denies report of massive biometric data breach

NEW DELHI: The Indian government said information of more than one billion people stored in its central repository system was safe and denied a news report that claimed the data could be accessed illegally for 500 rupees ( US$ 8).

“The Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure,” the Unique Identification Authority of India ( UIDAI), which runs the database and the 12- digit biometric identification Aadhaar card scheme, said on Thursday.

The Tribune newspaper in a report titled “Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details,” said earlier that biometric information was being sold online by anonymous sellers.

The newspaper said it was offered “unrestricted access to details for any of the more than 1 billion Aadhaar numbers created in India thus far.”

The UIDAI said the reported case could be a misuse of a data search facility given to “the designated personnel and state government officials” for “grievance redressal” of identification card holders.

“UIDAI reiterates that the grievance redressal search facility gives only limited access to name and other details and has no access to biometric details.

“UIDAI reassures that there has not been any data breach of the biometric database which remains fully safe and secure with the highest encryption at UIDAI and the mere display of demographic information cannot be misused without biometrics,” the agency said.

India wants all its citizens to register for the ID system and more than 1.1 billion have done so.

The government also wants to make it compulsory to use the ID for accessing a number of public and private sector services.

Banks and telecom companies have been asking people to link their accounts and mobile numbers to the ID to continue using their services.

There have been concerns about the abuse of stored data, which includes basic personal details along with fingerprints and iris scans.

Privacy advocates have mounted challenges to the system in India’s Supreme Court, saying the vast amount of information gathered can be misused. — Bernama