The UIDAI has put out a series of tweets today refraining citizens from putting their Aadhaar numbers on internet and social media and posing challenges to others. The tweets comes after TRAI Chief RS Sharma had challenged people to show if by knowing someone’s Aadhaar number could cause any harm.
After his challenge, the hackers claimed to have dug out his mobile number, photographs, residential address, date of birth, PAN number, bank accounts and even chat threads based on his Aadhaar number.
“In our regular media campaigns, we have been consistently making people aware not to display or publish or share their Aadhaar number in public domain. We emphasise that people should not display or publish their Aadhaar number in public.” read the tweet.
The UIDAI said that Aadhaar number is personally sensitive information like bank account number, passport number, PAN number, etc., which should be strictly shared only on a need basis for a legitimate use for establishing identity and for legitimate transactions.
Also, as per the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 and Justice Srikrishna’s proposed Data Protection Bill, personally sensitive information should not be published or shared publicly.
Also, it is advised that doing Aadhaar authentication through somebody else’s Aadhaar number or using someone else’s Aadhaar number for any purpose may amount to impersonation and thereby a criminal offence under the Aadhaar Act and Indian Penal Code.
#PressStatement
People are advised to refrain from publicly putting their Aadhaar numbers on internet and social media and posing challenges to others. 1/n— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) July 31, 2018