UIDAI demonstrate at Zero Tolerance against unauthorized Agencies and Websites

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Electronics & IT

03-February, 2017 15:40 IST
UIDAI demonstrate at Zero Tolerance against unauthorized Agencies and Websites

Demonstrating zero tolerance to unauthorized websites and mobile applications providing Aadhaar related services illegally by charging excessive money from the public, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in an stern action against them has got shut down 12 websites and 12 mobile applications available on the Google Playstore; and has directed further to close down 26 more such fraudulent and illegal websites/applications.


It came to the notice of UIDAI that these websites and mobile applications downloadable through Google Playstore were providing unauthorized Aadhaar related services such as downloading online Aadhaar card, providing status of Aadhaar generation, PVC Aadhaar Card, etc. to residents and in that process they were illegally obtaining the Aadhaar number/enrolment details from the residents.


“UIDAI has not authorized the owners of these mobile applications or websites to extend any Aadhaar related services on its behalf”, said Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI.


He said, “Any Aadhaar-related demographic information can only be shared following the procedures laid down in the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Any such violation is punishable under Section 38 and Chapter VII of the Aadhaar Act that provides punishment for “Whoever, not being authorized by the Authority, intentionally accesses or secures, downloads, copies or extracts any data from the Central Identities Data Repository or stored in any removable storage medium…”


Warning unauthorized websites and mobile applications providers against illegal use of Aadhaar logo in violation of Aadhaar Act and the Copyright Act, Dr. Pandey said, “We are contemplating stern action against them”.


“As per Section 70 of the IT Act, the Government of India has declared the UIDAI’s Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) facilities, Information assets, logistics infrastructure and dependencies installed at UIDAI locations to be critically Protected System”, he added.


He cautioned people to be aware against all such unscrupulous entities that are alluring to provide unauthorized Aadhaar related services and asked them to remain vigilant for the protection of their privacy.


“www.uidai.gov.in is the only authorized website of UIDAI. Any other website with Aadhaar in its name and providing Aadhaar related services is not authorized by us and hence, illegal. We are taking stern action against all such illegal sites and aiding such websites/agencies or persons in any manner may amount to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under Indian Penal Code and, also, under Section 8 and Chapter VII of the Aadhaar Act along with relevant sections of IT Act”, said Dr. Pandey.


UIDAI suggests that in case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download his Aadhaar card free of cost from the UIDAI’s official website. The print out of the downloaded Aadhaar is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter. For Aadhaar related services, people should visit either UIDAI’s website or authorized Common Service Centers or Aadhaar Permanent Enrolment Centers only.

 

[Hindustani78]

The move is aimed at adding a new device-level security layer at a time when Aadhaar-based e-KYC is being used by telecom industry for fresh connections and re-verification of existing mobile subscribers.
india Updated: Oct 22, 2017 14:25 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi

A man looks on as another puts his hand on a slap pad to record fingerprints during a data collection process of Unique Identification Authority of India.(AFP File)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ts-says-ceo/story-qrSmhySSpYROYl9JkkOM8N.html


Nearly 13.8 lakh biometric devices in use by the telecom sector for Aadhaar authentication have been made compliant with UIDAI’s new encryption norms, according to CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey.

The move is aimed at adding a new device-level security layer at a time when Aadhaar-based e-KYC is being used by telecom industry for fresh connections and re-verification of existing mobile subscribers.

“In telecom sector, about 13.8 lakh fingerprint devices have been upgraded as registered devices with the new encryption key. Telecom industry is now fully compliant,” the UIDAI CEO told PTI.

Overall, about 15 lakh devices have been “upgraded”, meaning that these devices, that were being used in the field for biometric authentication, have now been secured with a new layer of encryption.

All new biometric devices, as it is, have the latest encryption norms in place, Pandey added.

“In all, about 15 lakh devices have been upgraded out of 20 lakh such units in circulation in various sectors...many banks are also in the process of upgrading their biometric units,” he added.

Lauding telecom companies for completing the “massive” task of rolling out the new security feature in existing fingerprint devices, Pandey said encryption key will ensure that biometrics captured cannot be misused.

“This is like a third lock. One lock is in form of encryption at the time of biometric capture, then it gets further encrypted at level of the telecom operator, and then we have our own encryption,” he said.

Aadhaar-based e-KYC is essential for subscribers going for new SIMs.

Further, in early 2017, the government asked mobile operators to reverify all the existing prepaid and postpaid customers, with the help of the 12-digit unique identity number and biometric details.

The re-verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by early 2018.

UIDAI’s next priority would be to ensure compliance of new encryption norms in other user agencies like banks and various government offices, he added.

“We will soon take stock of those who have not complied and ask them to explain why it has not been done yet”, he said.

UIDAI is the nodal body responsible for rolling out Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identification number that identifies residents based on their biometrics.

While more than 118 crore Aadhaar cards have been generated in the country, 4 to 5 crore Aadhaar authentications are taking place everyday.