English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Linking Aadhaar to services “must be criminalized”, says Edward Snowden

Published

8 years ago

on

Linking Aadhaar to services “must be criminalized”, says Edward Snowden

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In yet another major blow at the central government’s Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), American whistleblower-in-exile Edward Snowden on Sunday hit out at the Aadhaar card through a series of posts on Twitter. Terming Aadhaar as “an improper gate to service”, the former US National Security Agency contractor stated that the demands to link unique numbers with services “must be criminalized”.

Linking an online article written by former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief KC Verma, Snowden wrote on Twitter, “Rarely do former intel chiefs and I agree, but the head of India’s RAW writes #Aadhaar is being abused by banks, telcos, and transport not to police entitlements, but as a proxy for identity–an improper gate to service. Such demands must be criminalized.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRVJhcmVseSUyMGRvJTIwZm9ybWVyJTIwaW50ZWwlMjBjaGllZnMlMjBhbmQlMjBJJTIwYWdyZWUlMkMlMjBidXQlMjB0aGUlMjBoZWFkJTIwb2YlMjBJbmRpYSUyNiUyMzM5JTNCcyUyMFJBVyUyMHdyaXRlcyUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZBYWRoYWFyJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzQWFkaGFhciUzQyUyRmElM0UlMjBpcyUyMGJlaW5nJTIwYWJ1c2VkJTIwYnklMjBiYW5rcyUyQyUyMHRlbGNvcyUyQyUyMGFuZCUyMHRyYW5zcG9ydCUyMG5vdCUyMHRvJTIwcG9saWNlJTIwZW50aXRsZW1lbnRzJTJDJTIwYnV0JTIwYXMlMjBhJTIwcHJveHklMjBmb3IlMjBpZGVudGl0eSVFMiU4MCU5M2FuJTIwaW1wcm9wZXIlMjBnYXRlJTIwdG8lMjBzZXJ2aWNlLiUyMFN1Y2glMjBkZW1hbmRzJTIwbXVzdCUyMGJlJTIwY3JpbWluYWxpemVkLiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0LmNvJTJGclJTbjQyWExsUSUyMiUzRWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdC5jbyUyRnJSU240MlhMbFElM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRSUyNm1kYXNoJTNCJTIwRWR3YXJkJTIwU25vd2RlbiUyMCUyOCU0MFNub3dkZW4lMjklMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZTbm93ZGVuJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGOTU1MDUwNDU1NDkwNTQ3NzEyJTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VKYW51YXJ5JTIwMjElMkMlMjAyMDE4JTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRmJsb2NrcXVvdGUlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBhc3luYyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNFJTIwJTBB[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Later in the day, Snowden linked a post tweeted by the UIDAI official handle on January 17 and replied to it depicting the flaws in the design of information flow with Aadhaar.

On January 17, UIDAI shared a post from its official Twitter handle, saying, “#Aadhaar is an identifier, not a profiling tool. Aadhaar database does not keep any information about bank accounts, shares, mutual funds, property details, health records, family details, religion, caste, education etc. #AadhaarMythBuster.” Snowden quoted this tweet and wrote: “That might be true if banks, landlords, hospitals, schools, telephone & internet companies were prohibited by law from asking for your #Aadhaar number. But any Indian can tell you they’re asked for their number by non-government entities–and those companies have databases too.”

Responding to the UIDAI tweet, Snowden said, “That might be true if banks, landlords, hospitals, schools, telephone & internet companies were prohibited by law from asking for your #Aadhaar number. But any Indian can tell you they’re asked for their number by non-government entities––and those companies have databases too.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Snowden’s fresh jibe at Aadhaar came days after The Tribune reporter Rachna Khaira has depicted how anonymous sellers over WhatsApp were allegedly providing Aadhaar details for a fee. She claimed that Rs 500 and 10 minutes got an access to almost every detail of any individual submitted to the UIDAI – including name, address, postal code (PIN), photo, phone number and email.

UIDAI registered an FIR against the newspaper, its reporter Rachna Khaira and her sources: Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Raj, the people contacted during the course of reporting under IPC Sections 419 (punishment for cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document), as well Section 66 of the IT Act and Section 36/37 of the Aadhaar Act.

Coming out in support of the publication and its reporter, Snowden at that time tweeted that the journalist should be awarded and not probed for digging out the truth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“The journalists exposing the #Aadhaar breach deserve an award, not an investigation. If the government were truly concerned for justice, they would be reforming the policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians. Want to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI,” wrote Snowden.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

Published

4 hours ago

on

June 16, 2026

By

Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

Continue Reading

India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

Published

5 hours ago

on

June 16, 2026

By

Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

Published

22 hours ago

on

June 15, 2026

By

Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com