UIDAI: Not possible to introduce ghost entries into Aadhaar database

NEW DELHI: The UIDAI said Tuesday no operator can make or update Aadhaar unless an individual gives biometrics details, debunking reports that Aadhaar software was being purportedly hacked.

In an official statement, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) stressed that its system cannot be bypassed while refuting all suggestions of its software and ID database being purportedly compromised.

Such claims “lack substance and are baseless”, it said.

Referring to a news report of Aadhaar enrolment software being allegedly hacked, the UIDAI statement claimed that “certain vested interests are deliberately trying to create confusion in the minds of people which is completely unwarranted”.

The UIDAI said that it matches all the biometric -- 10 fingerprints and both iris -- of a resident enrolling for Aadhaar with the biometrics of all Aadhaar holders before issuing an Aadhaar, and so the claims of introducing information into Aadhaar database were “completely unfounded”.

The Aadhaar-issuing body further said it has taken all necessary safeguards to ensure complete security of residents’ data ranging from full encryption at the time of capture to tamper resistance, and from physical and network security to stringent audit mechanism and monitoring.

“UIDAI further clarified that no operator can make or update Aadhaar unless resident himself give his biometric,” the nodal body said and listed out the stringent enrolment and updation procedures followed by it.