NEW DELHI - India on Thursday began investigating a report that access to its database of the identity details of more than 1 billion citizens was being sold for just $8 on social media, in what could be one of the giant programme's biggest security breaches.
The Tribune newspaper said it had been able to buy login credentials to the Aadhaar database, allowing it to acquire information such as the names, telephone numbers and home addresses of millions of people.
The paper said it bought access for as little as 500 rupees ($7.89) from someone on a WhatsApp social media group.
The "case appears to be an instance of misuse," said the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which runs the biometric identity card scheme, the world's largest.
The agency said it had initiated a police complaint against the people responsible for selling the access, but did not identify them.
Crucial data, "including biometric information, is fully safe and secure," the agency said in a statement. The database incorporates fingerprints and iris scans, besides basic information details.
"Mere display of demographic information can't be misused without biometrics," it added, ruling out financial fraud, saying access to bank accounts required further authentication that involved fingerprint and iris scans.
But the breach is the latest in a programme facing increasing scrutiny over privacy concerns and is likely to prompt further questions about data safety.
The Supreme Court is holding hearings to decide if a drive by the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to link Aadhaar to private and public services infringes the privacy rights of individuals.
"The perils of making Aadhaar mandatory and linking it to bank accounts, as insisted upon by the Modi government, are visible here," Sitaram Yechury, a leader of the communist party, said in a Twitter post.
"Do we need more proof to stop this madness?"
Last month, the agency barred telecoms firm Bharti Airtel and its Airtel Payments Bank from using Aadhaar details to verify customers' identities, because the facility was being misused to open accounts on its payment platform.
Bend It Like Our Netas
(01 of11)
Open Image ModalPrime Minister Narendra Modi has spearheaded the campaign on the benefits of yoga. This year he was in Lucknow, leading an International Yoga day event. Today he tweeted urging everyone to practice yoga saying, "In addition to fitness, wellness is important. Yoga is a medium to achieve wellness.I urge everyone to make Yoga a part of their lives." (credit:Twitter/All India Radio)
(02 of11)
Open Image ModalYogi Adityanath was in Lucknow as well, here he is seen doing some tough yoga moves. (credit:Twitter/myyogiadityanath)
(03 of11)
Open Image ModalUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had broken the internet with his workout photos. And today he took to Twitter to show that he can bust some yoga poses too. (credit:Twitter/Kiren Rijiju)
(04 of11)
Open Image ModalUnion Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu was seen leading a group of people in New Delhi's Connaught Place. (credit:Twitter/Venkaiah Naidu)
(05 of11)
Open Image ModalBJP President Amit Shah celebrated International Yoga Day with Baba Ramdev and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Ahmedabad. And given it was Baba Ramdev who was leading the event, it is possible that they may have had quite a tough session. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(06 of11)
Open Image ModalRailway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were seen meditating at an event in Mumbai. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(07 of11)
Open Image ModalThe tree pose is not everyones cup of tea, but here are Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar along with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh mastering it at an eventin Imphal. (credit:Twitter/Prakash Javadekar)
(08 of11)
Open Image Modal (credit:Twitter/Ravi Shankar Prasad)
(09 of11)
Open Image ModalFormer ministers and now Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was at an auditorium in Goa's Bambolim. (credit:Twitter/All India Radio News)
(10 of11)
Open Image ModalMadhya Pradesh Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was at an event in Bhopal's Lal Parade Ground leading a group of people. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(11 of11)
Open Image ModalManeka Gandhi celebrated International Yoga Day, a couple of days ago with anganwadi children in New Delhi. The children seem to be following the minister quite well. (credit:Twitter/MIB_India)