The Aadhaar card, which was to be only for smooth transfer of welfare benefits, is now asked for all kinds of things, from opening bank accounts to getting a SIM card. And it has led to many problems since the first enrolment, 15 years ago.
Usha Ramanathan, a legal researcher who was among those who warned of some its dangers, says that it is creating a digital economy that is for the benefit of business.
While other resources, such as land or water, are tangible and can be contested, data is not. People willingly give their information as long they get convenience in return, she says to Sidharth Bhatia in a podcast interview. But they also give away their privacy. The result is surveillance on every aspect of their lives, she says.
She says the marginalised suffer the most since they lose benefits because of problems such as change of fingerprints, misspelling of names and so on. And there is nowhere to turn for help.
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