The latest warning issued by UIDAI( Unique Identification Authority of India) warned people not to share the photocopies of their Aadhaar card. Withdrawn later, the warning has arisen concerns among the masses regarding the safety of their Aadhaar data.
The UIDAI Warning
The Unique Identification Authority of India issued a press release on 27th May 2022. The press release said, “Only those organizations that have obtained a User License from the UIDAI can use Aadhaar to establish the identity of a person.” It further said,” hotels or film halls are not permitted to collect or keep copies of Aadhaar Card. It is an offense under the Aadhaar Act 2016.”
The warning also urged people to avoid using public computers for downloading Aadhaar cards.
What Happened Post Warning
After the warning was issued, a lot of people questioned the concerns of using Aadhaar cards at private entities. The questions were regarding the services that require Aadhaar cards and how Aadhaar data can be misused. After this, the warning was withdrawn on May 29 and a statement was released by UIDAI. Aadhaar cardholders are only advised to exercise normal prudence in using and sharing their UIDAI Aadhaar numbers”, said the updated statement.
What Can You Do To Keep Your Aadhaar Card Data Safe?
It is nearly impossible for individuals to keep control over data breaches, but taking efforts to secure Aadhaar data can make things better. To keep your data safe, you can follow these steps:-
◈ Two-factor authentication
This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your Aadhaar safe. Link your mobile number and email id to your Aadhaar card. In case if someone tries to verify your Aadhaar without your permission, it won’t be done without OTP (one-time password) sent by UIDAI.In case you have a new mobile number, get it updated to avoid any chaos.
◈ Masked Aadhaar Copy
A Masked Aadhaar copy contains only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number and can be easily downloaded from the UIDAI website. In the case of sharing, it can be shared online and offline to avoid misuse of data.
◈ Aadhaar Biometric Locking
The biometric data of the Aadhar card can be locked by visiting the UIDAI website. Post locking, the biometric data cannot be used for further authentication. The user can lock this data temporarily or permanently as per their requirements.
◈ The Virtual Identity
The VID or Virtual Identify System can also be used to secure your data. With this, authentication can be done without revealing the Aadhar number of the user. The VID is a 16-digit temporary number used for verification. It can be generated from the mAadhar app available for ios and android users.
