http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-42575443
Aadhaar: 'Leak' in world's biggest database worries Indians
- 5 January 2018
Indian officials in charge of a controversial biometric identity scheme have filed a police complaint after a report that citizens' personal details were being sold for as little as 500 rupees ($7.8;£5.8) online.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) wants a probe into "unauthorised access" to its database.
But it said biometric data was safe.
The Tribune newspaper claimed that it bought user details via an "agent" advertising his services on WhatsApp.
The report is the latest revelation against the UIDAI biometric system known as Aadhaar, which means foundation.
It said that once it paid the "agent", its reporters were given a username and password that allowed them to enter any Aadhaar number into the UIDAI website and get access to user information including name, address, photo, phone number and email address.
