UIDAI Plans a Public Outreach Program to Sensitise People About Dos and Don’ts of Sharing Aadhaar

At the same time, UIDAI has said that Aadhaar should be given freely for proving one’s identity and for transaction purpose, just like one gives bank account or other details for a specific purpose.

UIDAI’s proposed FAQs argue that mere knowledge of Aadhaar cannot harm an individual or be misused for impersonation, as it is fortified with additional security layers like biometrics and OTP (one-time password) authentication, making it more secure than other identity documents.

The nodal body will also tackle other queries including whether a bank account can be opened or money withdrawn in a fraudulent manner by merely knowing someone’s Aadhaar number.

UIDAI has also outlined the responsibilities of banks and other user organisations in carrying out the required checks and due diligence in this regard.

This Move Comes After Aadhaar Dare from Trai Chairman RS Sharma

The public outreach plan comes just days after RS Sharma had a stand-off with critics of Aadhaar when he disclosed his unique ID number on microblogging site Twitter and asked people to show how mere knowledge of the number could be used to harm him.

An ardent supporter of the Aadhaar programme and a former director general of UIDAI, Sharma’s move had caused a social media flutter and an avalanche of tweets had ensued in the aftermath of the episode.

Some users claimed to have got access to Sharma’s bank account number and email, although the Trai chief had refuted such claims, saying they were untrue.

With social media on the boil, the UIDAI on July 31 asked people not to share their 12-digit identifier on the internet and social media, or pose such challenges to others.