Barely two days ago, TRAI Chairman Ram Sewak Sharma revealed his Aadhaar number on Twitter and threw an open challenge asking people to prove how someone can be harmed using just this piece of information.
Soon enough, the whole challenged snowballed into a full-fledged agenda on Twitter to prove Sharma wrong. Within an hour, someone revealed his personal details and soon after that ₹1 was deposited in the bank account of TRAI chief via Aadhaar-enabled payment service.
The ethical hackers, who fetched Sharma’s bank account details using his Aadhaar number, also posted a screenshot of the transaction on Twitter.
Now, much to Sharma’s and TRAI’s embarrassment, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India)- the mandated organisation that issues the 12-digit Aadhaar number to Indian citizens- has issued an advisory via a series of tweets, warning people to refrain from using their Aadhaar number on social media.
#PressStatement People are advised to refrain from publicly putting their Aadhaar numbers on internet and social media and posing challenges to others. 1/n
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) July 31, 2018
Aadhaar number is personally sensitive information like bank account number, passport number, PAN number, etc., which should be strictly shared only on a need basis for a legitimate use for establishing identity and for legitimate transactions. 5/n
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) July 31, 2018
Also, it is advised that doing Aadhaar authentication through somebody else’s Aadhaar number or using someone else’s Aadhaar number for any purpose may amount to impersonation and thereby a criminal offence under the Aadhaar Act and Indian Penal Code. 8/n
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) July 31, 2018
As it was bound to happen, Twitter erupted in laughter and why not!
Tell this to trai head
— Upendra Chaudhary (@Ch_Upendra) July 31, 2018
RS Sharma: Aadhaar is Safe. See Nobody can harm me.😂 pic.twitter.com/FC57ut7vfU
— Keerthi🌹 (@TheDesiEdge) July 31, 2018
Well Trai chief got lucky to get 1 Re in his account by posting his 😂😂
— Udaykumar J Nair (@udaykn06) July 31, 2018
If someone can’t trace your mobile number, address and bank details using your Aadhaar, then your Aadhaar number must be wrong. Correct it
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) July 31, 2018
Huh so you agree your promises and your fortresses are nothing but built out of hollow promises for which you’d neither hold yourself responsible nor indemnify the holder of the identification..just what have you brought upon us???
— Max (@max4974) July 31, 2018
Now, this is called learning your lesson the hard way.
