Don’t share Aadhaar information: UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked e-commerce players like e-Bay, Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal to stop merchants on their platform from collecting Aaddhaar information of people transacting.

§  The ministry of communications and IT has also warned the general public against sharing personal information to people who are charging between Rs 50 to Rs 200 on a plastic card in the name of smart card.

§  The ministry has also warned that collecting information related to Aadhaar card or its unauthorised printing or aiding such persons in any manner may amount to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under Indian Penal Code and also Chapter VI of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.

About UIDAI:

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was set up in 2009 as an attached office of the erstwhile Planning Commission of India.

§  Its objective is to collect the biometric and demographic data of residents, store them in a centralised database, and issue a 12-digit unique identity number called Aadhaar to each resident.

§  The UIDAI has also been given the responsibility to lay down plan and policies to implement UID scheme, to own and operate the UID database and be responsible for its updation and maintenance on an ongoing basis.