Govt serious about protecting Aadhaar data: Prasad

The Government is serious about protecting Aaadhar data and has appealed to people not to give social platforms a blanket consent to their data, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

Prasad also said that the government is awaiting a report by a committee of experts on data protection chaired by Justice B N Srikrishna.

"Aadhaar today is backed by a proper law passed by Parliament which contains robust security measures and protects privacy...The UIDAI continues to update security architecture to ensure there is no breach of data," he said.

Even the World Bank and IMF have recognised Aadhaar as a fine instrument of governance and delivery, he said.

Prasad said, "A Committee of Experts on Data Protection, chaired by Justice BN Srikrishna has been constituted to look into aspects pertaining to data protection. The Committee has out with a white paper for wider public review and...has also conducted stakeholders' consultation meetings and is in the process of finalising its report on data protection framework in India."
"Today, India is emerging as a digital power. While we completely acknowledge the right to privacy ... privacy cannot become the plea of terrorists and the corrupt. This we have to acknowledge. ...While respecting the mandate of privacy, India is emerging as a big power in digital field that should not be compromised."
"The government took thier suggestion seriously."