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Alphons Kannanthanam: India minister's 'naked' visa claim criticised | Alphons Kannanthanam: India minister's 'naked' visa claim criticised |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An Indian minister has sparked a social media storm with his comments on the country's controversial biometric identity scheme. | An Indian minister has sparked a social media storm with his comments on the country's controversial biometric identity scheme. |
Alphons Kannanthanam said Indians had no problem "getting naked" for a US visa, but object to the Aadhaar scheme over privacy concerns. | Alphons Kannanthanam said Indians had no problem "getting naked" for a US visa, but object to the Aadhaar scheme over privacy concerns. |
It is not clear what he meant exactly but he may be referring to airport strip searches. | It is not clear what he meant exactly but he may be referring to airport strip searches. |
Since Aadhar's inception, critics have been worried about its data safety. | Since Aadhar's inception, critics have been worried about its data safety. |
In January, an Indian journalist said she was able to access citizens' personal details on the Aadhaar website after paying an agent 500 rupees ($8; £6). The government called it a data breach at the time. | In January, an Indian journalist said she was able to access citizens' personal details on the Aadhaar website after paying an agent 500 rupees ($8; £6). The government called it a data breach at the time. |
More than a billion Indians have enrolled in Aadhaar and have received a 12-digit unique identification number after submitting biometric data. | More than a billion Indians have enrolled in Aadhaar and have received a 12-digit unique identification number after submitting biometric data. |
It started out as a voluntary programme to tackle benefit fraud, but the ID number has become increasingly necessary for financial transactions and social welfare. | It started out as a voluntary programme to tackle benefit fraud, but the ID number has become increasingly necessary for financial transactions and social welfare. |
Mr Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism, electronics and information technology, criticised Indians who have resisted giving their data to the government. | Mr Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism, electronics and information technology, criticised Indians who have resisted giving their data to the government. |
"We [Indians] have absolutely no problems going and putting our fingerprints and the iris and getting your whole body naked before the white man at all," he said. | "We [Indians] have absolutely no problems going and putting our fingerprints and the iris and getting your whole body naked before the white man at all," he said. |
"But when the government of India, which is your government, asks you your name and your address, nothing more, there's a massive revolution in the country saying it's an intrusion into the privacy of the individual." | "But when the government of India, which is your government, asks you your name and your address, nothing more, there's a massive revolution in the country saying it's an intrusion into the privacy of the individual." |
He added that the biometric data collected under the scheme was safe with the government. | He added that the biometric data collected under the scheme was safe with the government. |
The comment by the minister comes a week after the Indian Supreme Court extended its deadline on ruling whether Aadhaar needs to be mandatorily linked to avail various services, including welfare schemes, bank accounts and phone numbers. | The comment by the minister comes a week after the Indian Supreme Court extended its deadline on ruling whether Aadhaar needs to be mandatorily linked to avail various services, including welfare schemes, bank accounts and phone numbers. |
Mr Kannanthanam added that he had to fill out a 10-page form to apply for a US visa. | |
"Ten pages of data which you have never even confessed to your wife or husband ever, that is passed on to the white man. We have no problem," he said. | "Ten pages of data which you have never even confessed to your wife or husband ever, that is passed on to the white man. We have no problem," he said. |
However, many on social media were quick to point out the differences between the two scenarios he put forward: | However, many on social media were quick to point out the differences between the two scenarios he put forward: |
India's biometric database is the world's largest. The government has collected fingerprints and iris scans from more than a billion residents - or nearly 90% of the population - and stored them in a high security data centre. | India's biometric database is the world's largest. The government has collected fingerprints and iris scans from more than a billion residents - or nearly 90% of the population - and stored them in a high security data centre. |
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a fundamental right to privacy in a landmark judgment. The ruling, experts said, had significant implications for the government's vast biometric ID scheme. | Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a fundamental right to privacy in a landmark judgment. The ruling, experts said, had significant implications for the government's vast biometric ID scheme. |
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