UIDAI plans public outreach on sharing of Aadhaar number

After the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chief’s Aadhaar dare ignited a debate on public display of the 12-digit number, the UIDAI is planning a user outreach to sensitise people about the dos and don’ts of sharing their biometric identifier.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) intends to equate the Aadhaar number with other personal information (such as PAN (Permanent Account Number), bank account and credit card number) to caution users against placing their personal details in the public domain, particularly on digital platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

“It is necessary to inform people that they should use Aadhaar freely, without fear, and a detailed FAQs (frequently asked questions) will be issued in this regard,” Ajay Bhushan Pandey, UIDAI CEO toldPTI.

The FAQs will address nearly half-adozen queries related to the issue that has been hotly-debated over the past fortnight ever since Trai Chairman R S Sharma tweeted his Aadhaar number and dared people to show how mere knowledge of the ID can cause him “real harm”. The queries include whether Aadhaar can be used freely in the backdrop of UIDAI’s recent advisory to people not to put their 12- digit number on public display.

The UIDAI has sought to draw a parallel between Aadhaar and other personal details such as PAN and bank account number to tell people that personal details should not be placed in the public domain to avoid “unwarranted invasion attempt” on privacy.