Aadhaar data breach shocks Twitterati, top trend for the day
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 4
After an exclusive story by The Tribune on the breach of Aadhaar data, hashtags Aadhaar and Rs 500 were the top trends on Twitter with many prominent users expressing their opinion on the issue.
A news report published with the title, “”, had reported how a service was being offered by anonymous sellers over WhatsApp that provided unrestricted access to details for any of the more than 1 billion Aadhaar numbers created in India thus far for as little as Rs 500.
(Follow ; and )
However, the UIDAI’s official Twitter handle denied any data breach of biometric details and said it was a case of “misreporting”.
(Read: )
()
(
The official party handle of the Congress party, MP Shashi Tharoor, CPI’s Sitaram Yechury and journalist Pankaj Pachauri among others tweeted on The Tribune story.
How ₹500 is all it takes to buy you unauthorized access to the database:
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor)
“UIDAI officials in Chandigarh expressed shock over full data being accessed...” Someone tell UIDAI it needs to to stop being shocked each time there’s a breach & actually improve security if they expect us to entrust our lives to them.
— Maya Mirchandani (@maya206)
ITS BREACHED!
— James Wilson (@jamewils)
Ur are for sale!!
Get shocked reading this investigation done by the journalist Rachna Khaira 👇
Went to the ATM to withdraw 500 bucks ! Got one billion Aadhar Deatils instead
— Aniket Dharamdasani (@iamaniketmd)
Rs 500. That's all it takes for someone to steal the data of a billion citizens. Envisioned by UPA as a tool for inclusion, has become an identity theft nightmare under the NDA.
— Congress (@INCIndia)
Govt. swings into damage control mode - days report is 'misleading'
— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee)
So who's wrong ? The 100 year old newspaper or the Govt???
Here are the shocking details that the paper uncovered on via its reporter - firsthand.
All data is now toxic. It has been accessed for Rs 500 by an unknown number of people, agencies and countries.
— Pankaj Pachauri (@PankajPachauri)
Our reporter authenticated the story by calling up sellers.
Congratulations for excellent journalistic work.
The most startling story of this year yet? Needs investigation to determine how bad this breach is.
— Manu Pubby (@manupubby)
The perils of making Aadhaar mandatory and linking it to bank accounts, as insisted upon by Modi govt, are visible here. Do we need more proof to stop this madness?
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury)
‘AADHAR’ data breached yet again!
— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala)
As every citizen’s personal information is exposed to hackers everyday & ‘Right to Privacy’ is mocked and flouted with impunity, Modi Govt remains immune.
Is anyone listening?
This is dangerous and criminal negligence of data security. Kudos to the reporter for unveiling the racket. A crackdown on the culprits& a corrective step is imperative: Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details via
— Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale)
Heres another story of data being accessed / breached - Breach of privacy n also cud be a case negligence by - dear
Tribune’s Story “Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details” is a case of misreporting. No biometric data breach
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp)×Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access.
Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsComboYearlyMonthlyAlready a Member? Sign In Now
