UIDAI launches Virtual ID, aimed at hiding Aadhaar numbers

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday launched its Virtual-ID (VID) facility for Aadhaar cards.

The new facility was planned by the UIDAI to provide a secure way of protecting people’s Aadhaar numbers.

The UIDAI had envisaged the unique system in January this year when news reports suggested that Aadhaar data was at risk, as it is shared with telecom service providers, banks and insurance companies, etc.

According to the UIDAI, the VID facility masks people’s 12-digit Aadhaar number and instead generates a 16-digit ‘virtual-id’, randomly.

UIDAI launches Virtual ID. Generate your VID from: https://t.co/8Opr7VubjM Soon, service providers will start accepting VID in place of Aadhaar number. For now, you can use this for online address update in your Aadhaar from: https://t.co/JwJO4mFXwopic.twitter.com/CKeWozKQ1e

Related Stories

• OPINION | CCI’s resource allocation is lopsided. IndiGo’s crisis shows why
• OPINION | Thirupparankundram in Tamil Nadu is ground zero for the state’s political future
• OPINION | Vault Matters: India needs its ICBC, ABC, and JP Morgan: SBI alone won’t do

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) April 2, 2018

The system is aimed at providing anonymity to users with a 16-digit number that can be deactivated and revoked as needed by the user.

In January, the UIDAI had said it would not be possible for a person’s Aadhaar number to be derived from the 16-digit unique VID.

While launching the facility, the authority said people already having an Aadhaar number could start generating their unique VIDs.

However, the UIDAI said various services providers are expected to start accepting the VIDs “soon”. Service providers have been given a June 1-deadline to start accepting VIDs, reports suggest.

If providers fail to start the VID acceptance process by then, their authentication facilities would be revoked.

While it was expected that the UIDAI would allow users to create multiple VIDs, it is, for now, allowing people to create just one.

The system was supposed to be launched on March 1 this year.

The Supreme Court on March 31 indefinitely extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar numbers with bank accounts and phone numbers, till the top court pronounces its verdict in the ongoing Aadhaar validity case.