Snowden says programmes like Aadhaar result in abuse

A file picture of Edward Snowden.

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Edward Snowden referred to the Aadhaar programme stating that the natural tendency of any government is to desire perfect records of private lives. “History shows no matter the laws, the result is abuse,” tweeted Mr. Snowden

He said this in response to a tweet from a CBS Editor Zack Whittaker, and followed it up by saying that the journalists exposing the Aadhaar breach deserve an award, not an investigation. “If the government were truly concerned for justice, they would be reforming the policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians. Want to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI,” he stated.

 

Mr. Snowden fled the U.S. in 2013 after he exposed a secret government programme to monitor its citizens. He now lives in Russia after they granted him asylum later that year.

 

The Tribune newspaper had reported that there were intermediaries who could give access to the Aadhaar database for Rs. 500. The UIDAI's response to the report, including a police complaint, had generated criticism from the Editors Guild of India.

Later, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad clarified that the FIR was against “unknown entities” and said the government was committed to the freedom of the press.