The dangers of *Aadhaar/ UIDAI* aren’t about privacy or data security alone: _the problem is far bigger_❗
*_It is about how much power you as an individual, surrender to the government_*‼
To those who support *Aadhaar* and/ or the government, please bear with me for a moment: _imagine…_and I repeat, *_imagine_* for a moment, that there is an undemocratic or fascist government at the Centre. Or worse, an Army general who manages a coup *and then declares an Emergency.*
The last time it happened, opposition leaders, including LK Advani and George Fernandes went underground. They masked their identity, travelled across the country, raised money and garnered people’s support for their pro-democracy activities.
*None of this will be possible any more*❕
In such a circumstance, just switching off your cell phone won’t be sufficient to avoid the government tracking you down.
*Thanks to Aadhaar,* you won’t be able to withdraw money or make any transaction, using even a debit card.
The government is linking Aadhaar to train tickets and boarding passes: *you won’t be able to travel*❕
*Being a centralized database, it takes just a few seconds _to switch off_ your Aadhaar authentication*❗
That can:
– deny you your own money,
– deny you any movement,
– deny you any form of communication.
You can’t hide behind an alias. *It is linked to your biometrics.*
The government doesn’t need to even arrest you. It can just deny your existence in a matter of a few seconds. You aren’t dead, but you can be termed dead in a matter of seconds: *You can be just _”Switched Off”_*‼
As databases get more and more linked – property cards, tax filings, joint bank accounts, school admissions – it takes another few seconds to identify your family members. And extend the same denial of existence to your family, friends or anyone whom you have any relationship with: *_”Switch them off”_*❗
Such acts don’t even require a declaration of Emergency. A Facebook post that isn’t liked by someone powerful enough can trigger this in a matter of moments: *_”Switch Off”_*❗
The problem with Aadhaar is that it is centralized, and *it owns you* ❗
You don’t have access to your own trail or data, but someone else has unilateral access to you, *anytime.* And it stores data, for seven years or even more.
*No law is sufficient. _Aadhaar just shouldn’t exist_*‼
We don’t need rights or protection for _”Achhe Din.”_ Rights and protection are meant for the _bad times._
But it is during the _good times,_ that it is important to not lose sight of how bad, times can be and what we need to protect about ourselves.
The likes of *Nandan Nilekani* are now saying that it is a security issue. They then point fingers at Android, iOS, Google or Facebook, which also own a lot of data about us.
It isn’t similar Sir, none of them have executive powers over me. I have some notional ability to delete them, sign off.
*They can’t _’Switch me Off’_*❕
His argument is akin to saying: _Look, we have built a grand, free house for you to live in. Yes, the columns of the house aren’t strong enough, but hey, there are other houses in town that also have weak columns.”_
*Sir, with all due respect, you should have built protection first, before giving birth to a Frankenstein*‼
*May Nature and the Universe, protect us*‼
December 4, 2017 at 4:03 pm
The controversy surrounding aadhar is not just privacy alone. By the possession of personal information with the government, it can take action on citizens on any grounds. Thus, th dangers are multi – fold and multi – dimensional