'Helpline number can't steal data': UIDAI rebuts rumour mongering against Aadhaar

Photo: Representational purpose

NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Sunday slammed people with "vested interests" for spreading "rumours" against the Aadhaar and reiterated that there was no harm in storing its helpline number on mobile phones. It said rumour mongers attempted to tarnish the image of Aadhaar for a Google's inadvertent act that led to appearance of its old helpline number 1800 300 1947 in the contact list of several mobile phone users. "UIDAI condemns the vested interests who tried to misuse Google's "inadvertent" act as an opportunity to spread rumours and go around fear-mongering against Aadhaar," the authority said in a statement. It said that Google has already clarified that UIDAI's old contact number 18003001947 was added by it "inadvertently" along with police and fire number in 2014 and has since been continuing through the sync mechanism. "The Google has clarified that UIDAI’s old contact number 18003001947 was added by it inadvertently along with police/fire number 112 in 2014 and has since been continuing through sync mechanism. It has also expressed its regret for the same," it said. "Google has also assured that it will fix this inadvertent error in their next release and stated that the users may, if they wish, can delete the number. "Rumours about Aadhaar database being breached are completely false and baseless and are rejected with all condemnation that it deserves. UIDAI assures that Aadhaar data remains fully safe and secure," it added. Assuring that Aadhaar data remains fully safe and secure, UIDAI clarified that rumours about Aadhaar database being breached are completely false and baseless and added that merely adding a phone number cannot steal data from the phone. "It must be clearly understood that by merely having a helpline number that, too, an outdated one, on a mobile/smartphone, no harm can be caused. Just by a helpline number in a mobile’s contact list the data stored on the mobile phone cannot be stolen," it said. "People should stay away from such rumours and malicious campaign by vested interests. They should also not waste their time and time of their near and dear ones by forwarding or circulating such false and baseless rumours on their WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook , etc," the statement added. It said the Aadhaar has empowered 121 Crore people of India with a credible and secure identity which can be freely used anywhere, anytime and online. Thousands of smartphone users in India woke up puzzled on Friday as an alleged 'helpline number' of UIDAI was saved in their phonebooks by default. The UIDAI and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) both had distanced themselves from the number (1800-300-1947) that got into people's contacts list without their consent. The Aadhaar body had earlier emphasised that it had not asked any agency whatsoever to include its helpline number in the mobile phones. It also clarified that its valid toll-free number is 1947, which is functional for more than two years.