The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), responsible for Aadhar in the country, said yesterday there has been no incident of misuse of biometrics data leading to identity theft and financial loss.
In a comprehensive clarification with regard to “misinformation” appearing in various print and social media alleging breach of Aadhaar data, misuse of biometrics, breach of privacy, and creation of parallel databases, etc, UIDAI said it has carefully gone into these reports and emphasised ‘”there has been no breach to UIDAI database of Aadhaar in any manner whatsoever and personal data of individuals held by UIDAI is fully safe and secure”.
Referring to reports of breach in the security of Aadhaar data, which were misused for creating parallel databases, the UIDAI said: “It is an isolated case of an employee working with a bank’s Business Correspondent’s company making an attempt to misuse his own biometrics which was detected by UIDAI’s internal security system and subsequently actions under the Aadhaar Act have been initiated.”
“Aadhaar-based authentication is robust and secure as compared to any other contemporary systems. Aadhaar system has the capability to inquire into any instance of misuse of biometrics and identity theft and initiate action,” it said.
“Any unauthorised capture of iris or fingerprints or storage or replay of biometrics or their misuse is a criminal offence under the Aadhaar Act,” it added.
The UIDAI said it uses one of world’s most advanced encryption technologies in transmission and storage of data. As a result, during the last seven years, there has been no report of breach or leak of residents’ data out of UIDAI.
It is continuously updating its security parameters looking at the new threats in cyber space. It also undertakes security audits and takes necessary steps to augment its security features, the authority said.
It also said subsidy transfers linked to Aadhaar has led the exchequer to save Rs49,000 crore during the last two-and-half years.
The Aadhaar-based Public Distributions System is benefiting people by ensuring that their food grain entitlement are given only to the deserving beneficiaries and are not cornered by unscrupulous and corrupt elements, it said.
Meanwhile, in a move to promote digital transactions after demonetisation, the government on Friday said it has asked banks to provide mobile banking facility to all customers by the end of the current fiscal year on March 31.