Edward Snowden backs former RAW chief's article against Aadhaar
American whistleblower Edward Snowden continues to take on Aadhaar and its potential for misuse. Tweeting a link to former RAW Chief KC Verma's article, Snowden wrote: "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...Such demands must be criminalized."
Former RAW chief's article against the widespread use of Aadhaar
Verma wrote a piece titled 'Nineteen Eighty-Four and India's Severe Case of Aadhaaritis' on the "stupidities, fallacies, misconceptions, whims and fancies regarding Aadhaar." Verma lists his encounters with bank and telco executives as well as railway ticketing agents, hospitals and I-T officials, who insist on his accounts being linked to Aadhaar. He argues how even submitting Aadhaar number should not be mandatory.
Edward Snowden's tweet on the article
UIDAI says details not stored, but what about private cos?
Coincidentally, just days ago, UIDAI had tried breaking "myths" around Aadhaar, arguing it is "an identifier, not a profiling tool." "Aadhaar database doesn't keep any information about bank accounts, property details, health records, family details, education etc." Snowden replied, "That might be true if banks, hospitals, schools, telephone and internet companies were prohibited from asking for Aadhaar. But (they do)...those companies have databases too."
Snowden has lashed out at the Indian government before too
Snowden first spoke on Aadhaar after reports emerged about unauthorized access being granted to the Aadhaar database at just Rs. 500. "History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse," he tweeted. After it was reported that an FIR had been filed against journalists involved, he lashed out at the Indian government, saying, "Want to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI."
'Tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives'
Is Snowden qualified to speak on the matter?
Snowden, responsible for revealing the NSA's mass surveillance, has made his own contributions to the fight for privacy. Last year, he and hacker Andrew "Bunnie" designed the "introspection engine", a cover that stops a phone from transmitting data without the user's consent. Less than a month ago, he launched the "Haven" app that converts Android devices into a spy tool to prevent physical tampering.
