Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav commented on the surreptitious insertion of a helpline number of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in thousands of smartphones across India.
Without naming any political party or group, Yadav tweeted, “The helpline number of Aadhaar card has been illicitly saved in the contact list of people’s Android devices without their permission. This means that some people have managed to infiltrate your phone and its information. Those who claim that EVMs are completely safe must be among those.”
अब लोगों के ऐंड्रॉइड मोबाइल फोन की कॉन्टेक्ट लिस्ट में उनकी मर्ज़ी के बिना ‘आधार कार्ड’ की हेल्पलाइन का नम्बर अवैध रूप से सेव हो गया है. इसका मतलब कुछ लोगों ने अापके फोन और उसकी सूचनाओं तक अपनी पहुंच बना ली है. इनमें वो लोग भी होगें, जो कहते हैं कि EVM पूरी तरह सुरक्षित है.
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 3, 2018
Android and iOS users woke up on Friday to find the number in the phonebook of their phones, without any of them having saved it manually. Many found their phonebook updated with UIDAI helpline number — 1800-300-1947.
The backdoor planting of the UIDAI number raised questions on security and privacy, with many asking how the Aadhaar helpline number crept into their phones without their authorisation.
Besides the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, many prominent names expressed surprise at the backdoor insertion of the number.
Several Twitter users took to micro-blogging site and questioned the step taken by the UIDAI once again flagging the security concerns.
“This is no joke as it is on my phone too. I didn’t save this number. Check your phone asap, feeling worried,” a user tweeted with a screenshot.
Read More: UIDAI helpline has entered your contact list, check your phone
Elliot Alderson, the pseudonym of a French security expert, asked UIDAI on Twitter: “Many people, with different providers, with and without an #Aadhaar card, with and without the mAadhaar app installed, noticed that your phone number is predefined in their contact list by default without their knowledge. Can you explain why?”
In its response, UIDAI issued a press statement saying that it has “not asked or communicated to any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever”.
Read More: UIDAI says it has no role in adding helpline number to contact lists
“It is emphasised that the said 1800-300-1947 is not a valid UIDAI Toll free number and some vested interest are trying to create unwarranted confusion in the public,” claimed UIDAI stating that it has not asked “anyone including any telecom service providers or mobile manufacturers or Android” to include the number in people’s phones.