Since its infancy, Aadhaar and its mandatory implementation have met with many obstacles starting with the common fear of leak in private details amongst common masses.
But while it was all fine till they were jokes in jest, the fears came true in reality and translated into anguish when The Tribune exposed UIDAI and its security breach that allows anyone access to the database of 1 Billion citizens for a mere Rs 500/-!
Needless to say, the report sent shock waves and urged many into an outrage both, on social media and off. People were/are angry at the Government that blew trumpets of ‘secure Aadhaar’ and rightly so.
https://twitter.com/ChandyIn/status/948782859388620802
But if you think that it can’t get worse, I’m afraid, I have bad news.
In the aftermath of the entire uproar, the administration has finally woken up from the slumber but unfortunately, to make another folly. It began with denying the reports outright and calling it a case of ‘misreporting’…
No #Aadhaar data breach; Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure: @UIDAI, denying report by @thetribunechd, saying it is a case of misreporting 1/2 pic.twitter.com/2d4ORHqqMh
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 4, 2018
“No
#Aadhaar data breach; Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure: UIDAI, denying report by The Tribune, saying it is a case of misreporting.”
Claims of bypassing or duping the #Aadhaar enrollment system are totally unfounded: @UIDAI, denying report by @thetribunechd 2/2 pic.twitter.com/Rn3k15mDJJ
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 4, 2018
And ended with discrediting The Tribune and an FIR against the reporter who broke the story, trampling the fundamentals of the free press, reports Indian Express.
The FIR also names Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Raj, all of whom were mentioned in The Tribune report that stated how anonymous sellers over WhatsApp were allegedly providing access to Aadhaar numbers for a fee.
But it won’t be a smooth sail for sure. Many journalists have condemned the move and criticised the measure on Twitter.
1. ‘Don’t intimidate journalists.’
Totally wrong for UIDAI to file an FIR against the journalist who exposed #AadharLeaks If a loophole is pointed out Govt should work on fixing the flaw rather than try to shoot the messenger. Don’t intimidate journalists. Not on. https://t.co/6mxDrZlrLC
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) January 7, 2018
2. Oh, the irony!
Instead of thanking Tribune reporter who exposed gap in Aadhaar security — biometrics safe but y should email/phone/address be available? –so it can be plugged @uidai files FIR against reporter!Bad idea @ceo_uidai Had it not been for report,Uidai wouldn't even know about breach pic.twitter.com/iCdwvyFoIB
— Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) January 7, 2018
3. Too big a price to pay…
Ditto. Refute disagreements. If you think Tribune story defamatory or inaccurate argue it- on fact- but whats with the FIR against a reporter doing her job? https://t.co/yVUC2NSRZo
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 7, 2018
4. WORD.
Dear @UIDAI: Reporter who showed that Aadhaar numbers are for sale deserves award, not FIR. https://t.co/bI8L73xrXC pic.twitter.com/iBxGByZl2I
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) January 7, 2018
5. Can you argue that?
Tribune reporter blew the whistle on Aadhaar showing how easy it is to steal personal info from Aadhaar database.Instead of rewarding her as a whistleblower,the govt has registered an FIR against her!This is why Modi govt has not notified Whistleblower lawhttps://t.co/0szECv3dLD
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) January 7, 2018
6. ‘Stupid and unsustainable.’
Withdraw the FIR against @thetribunechd reporter, UIDAI. You can refute what you find unfair or wrong. But throwing cops at reporters is, as stupid as it is unsustainable https://t.co/o3vNtqFUsq
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) January 7, 2018
7. We are grateful for the few!
Filing FIR against reporter for exposing Aadhar breach, suing journalists for fact-based stories, calling them names are all part of the same trend: the msg to journos is, don’t ask questions, become chamchas. Well, some will never do that
— Sidharth Bhatia (@bombaywallah) January 7, 2018
8. ‘Left’ or ‘Right’, what’s wrong is wrong!
We should condemn the move by #UIDAI to file FIR against The Tribune newspaper and journalist @rachnakhaira for brave reportage exposing loopholes in #Aadhar and how easily for Rs. 500 an agent can share private information within 10 minutes. Shooting the messenger won’t help.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 7, 2018
Even the Editors Guild has come out in the support of The Tribune and expressed its disagreement in a Facebook post.
Editors Guild condemns FIR against Tribune reporter who exposed Aadhar LeaksPRESS RELEASE 7 Jan 2018The Editors…
Posted by Raj Chengappa on Sunday, January 7, 2018
Meanwhile, UIDAI has issued statements on Twitter, stating that it is not targetting or curbing media like it’s been accused. In a series of 3 tweets, it wrote,
In the recent case of The Tribune’s report in which an FIR is filed, an impression is being created in media that UIDAI is targeting the media or whistleblowers or “shooting the messenger”. This is not at all true. 1/n@timesofindia @DeccanHerald @DeccanChronicle @IndianExpress
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) January 7, 2018
This is a case in which even though there was no breach of Aadhaar biometric database, it is for the act of unauthorized access, criminal proceedings have been initiated. 2/n @htTweets @FinancialXpress @TheQuint @EconomicTimes @ndtv @aajtak @CNBCTV18News
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) January 7, 2018
We respect Free Speech including the Freedom of Press and Media. However, our act of filing an FIR with full details of the incident should not be viewed as targeting the media or the whistle-blowers or “shooting the messenger. 3/n@ETNOWlive @abpnewstv @TimesNow
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) January 7, 2018
Now, since the cat is out of the bag, you decide. Was the FIR called for? Or should the officials try a different rebuttal while fixing the loopholes in the system? Let us know in the comments.