gaana icon of the Day

Aadhaar doesn't pose any privacy issue: Bill Gates

| Updated: May 3, 2018, 13:43 IST
190 Comments

Highlights

  • More than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric ID system
  • "Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because it's just a bio ID verification scheme," Bill Gates said
Bill Gates speaks during a meeting in Washington. (Photo: AFP)Bill Gates speaks during a meeting in Washington. (Photo: AFP)
WASHINGTON: India's Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank to take this approach to other countries as it is worth emulating, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said.

The 62-year-old multi-billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist said Nandan Nilekani, Infosys founder who is considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, was consulting and helping the World Bank on the project.

Asked if India's Aadhaar technology is worth emulating by other countries, he replied, "Yes".

"The benefits of that (basic ID -- Aadhaar) are very high," he told .

More than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric ID system.

"Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people," Gates said in response to a question.

"We have funded the World Bank to take this Aadhaar approach to other countries," he said.

It is believed that several countries, including some from India's neighbourhood, have approached New Delhi for assistance in this matter.

"Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because it's just a bio ID verification scheme," Gates, the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said when asked about the concerns about privacy issues raised by certain quarters in India.

"The individual applications that use Aadhaar, you have to look and see what's been stored and who has access to that information. And so, application by application, you have to make sure that's well managed. In the case of the financial bank account I think it's handled very well," he said.

"(It uses) Aadhar to set up the accounts so that you can both get your cell phone and get your bank account," he added.


Observing that Aadhaar was started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into office, Gates said that it was very much to his credit that he was willing to embrace it.

Top Comment

Kangress Says : Modi Jee Has purchased Bill Gates Also !!Satpal Jabbal

"I'm both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance," he said.


In his lecture on 'Technology for Transformation' organised by NITI Aayog on November 2016, Gates had said that Aadhaar is something that had never been done by any government before, not even in a rich country.


Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number for Indians, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the Government of India.

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more Business news in English and other languages.
RELATED
View190commentsPost a comment

All Comments (190)+

+
All CommentsYour Activity
Sort
Be the first one to review.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message
Satpal Jabbal
20183 4817 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Kangress Says : Modi Jee Has purchased Bill Gates Also !!

Reply 99 13 Flag Flagged
Rocks
1511 3489 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Despite being in UK your grasp on English grammar is very poor

Reply 14 12 Flag Flagged
Ashok Sharma
3454 1546 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

This UK stands for Uttrakhand not for United Kingdom.

Reply 14 1 Flag Flagged
Tiwari Unknown
8806 16194 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Congress wants to take the country back - no aadhaar to reduce loot, no evms but paper ballot, no accountability, only license quota permit raj with loot all around.

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
John Mathew
1205 3795 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Lol

Reply 3 0 Flag Flagged
My India
7019 17981 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

you fool its introduced by the same INC...not even you Feku.... they are opposing only the forced steps...

Reply 1 2 Flag Flagged
thottufj thottufj
2782 2218 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

First spell kangress correctly in English and then write non sense.

Reply 4 3 Flag Flagged
Office Of Papu
22635 2365 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

impeach bill gates will be next demand of scamgress leftlibtards and AAPtards

Reply 2 4 Flag Flagged
kamran ahmad
4400 600 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Sardar jee...the word aadhaar first used by the congress during upa and bjp was opposing that...
Aapke abhi tk 12 nhin baje hain....

Reply 1 6 Flag Flagged
ajayananda
4804 196 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Tumhare baj gaye naa ! Thank ur friends also !

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Prakash
2580 2420 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Using a word first and implementing it is 2 different things. The Indian National Chors claim to have thought of lots of ideas but they were woefully inadequate in implementing these ideas. Maybe there was not enough for their own bank accounts

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Marquis dEvremonde
9544 15456 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Satpal Jabbal- Well I don''t know about that. But what is apparent is that you have sold yourself to Feku ji.

Reply 1 3 Flag Flagged
Alex
3017 1983 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

And you have to Pappuji?

Reply 0 1 Flag Flagged
Prakash
2580 2420 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Support is selling oneself? In that case who have you sold yourself to? Papus proprietorship?

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Pankaj Malviya
10513 14487 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Dear Satpal, Aadhar is the brainchild of Kangress. All the credit of Aadhar goes to Kangress and not Modiji. I hope you remember Modiji and entire BJP opposed Aadhar before 2014 elections. BJP said Aadhar is scam... now BJP is running the same scam more vigorously.

Reply 9 4 Flag Flagged
Ananta Kr. Roy
7760 17240 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Hahahhah, now taking credit?For what?Rolling AADHAR?ok given! But what about using AADHAR for actually beneficial schemes of GOI?That credit,munna, is of none other than Modi.Even Gates mentions that.Read article for further enlightenment!

Reply 4 3 Flag Flagged
Office Of Papu
22635 2365 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

the A alphabet of Adhaar is brain child of scamgress too. only child created by scamgress worth mourning is pappu

Reply 2 3 Flag Flagged
Prakash
2580 2420 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Brainchilds in plenty but practical implementation? They had the numbers but maybe the real numbers in terms of "what is in it for me?" may have been the real issue.

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Roy
2160 2840 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

No use talking to mindless, paid trolls, Pankaj. Don''t waste your time on these biased, brainwashed morons.

Reply 2 4 Flag Flagged
Pankaj Malviya
10513 14487 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

I only attempt to help making my fellow Indians aware so that they make an informed choice. I know it's very hard job but I still do it because Indians soldiers are also doing a tough job defending India. So it's my duty to defend India from these paid trolls.

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Vinod Nair
471 4529 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Saheb was criticising AAdhar before 2014

Reply 2 1 Flag Flagged
CR KAKDE
35 215 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

A hole

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Vishwa Kumar
4678 322 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Very true, blind and dumb supporter of Congress will say anything

Reply 3 2 Flag Flagged
Girish Kamat
7037 17963 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Modi has blocked his foundation from participating in National Health Mission.

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Satpal Jabbal
20183 4817 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Kangress will start blaming AVMs very soon.

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Shekar
5980 19020 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

This is a perfect slap on the face of Kapil Sibal and all his associates involved with him mostly from Congress, TMC , etc. etc. ranting for freezing aadhar issuance

Reply 78 13 Flag Flagged
thottufj thottufj
2782 2218 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Yes , but the BJP opposed it when they were in opposition so what is the issue now. According Indian brains when one sits in opposition they have to oppose-why? because they are Indians.

Reply 5 7 Flag Flagged
Ravindra Prasanna Kumar Gulla
27 223 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

That''s the change as if by divine knowledge that Modi ji is pitted for Aadhaar so ferociously

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Kashyap Joshipura
1405 3595 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

It is a slap on our country.Bill and others doesn't have right to interfere in our internal matter.Some country men r having slave mentality so that they have praise for outsider opinion and slap for our own people

Reply 11 14 Flag Flagged
Jai bajrang bali
8060 16940 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Absolutely correct

Reply 1 5 Flag Flagged
P Reddy
- -

Suddenly why these foreign guys are commenting on our govt rule and implementations?

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Chirag Patel
1652 3348 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Philanthropist & the one of the richest persons around. He has achieved smth in life thats y ppl value his opinion. Sometimes its better to put your Fake ego aside.
Common sense tells me that only an outsider can give an unbiased opinion.
Its your hypocrisy that you will still criticise if this was said by Ratan Tata or Narayan Murthy.

Reply 1 1 Flag Flagged
Malaya Ranjan Sahoo
258 4742 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Correct

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Chirag Patel
1652 3348 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

It''s you who are ignorant. He is not just an outsider, he is also a great philanthro

Reply 0 1 Flag Flagged
Butel Bolriyala
7378 17622 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Rather, in the land of IT, we have tonnes of people who have zero IT knowledge. Shame on us. Anybody with basic database knowledge knows, AADHAAR doesn''t have your bank account number. Rather your bank account has your Aadhaar number. Along with that it has your pin number too along with tonnes of important information. Safeguard that.

Reply 2 1 Flag Flagged
Green Valiant
476 4524 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Seriously where did you get this idea. I live in USA. With basic information such as social security number similar to aadhar number a person was able to obtain a drivers license and bank check and took all money from me. Then you trust Bill gates. Without any number cambridge anylitca got all the data from Facebook.

Reply 0 1 Flag Flagged
Malaya Ranjan Sahoo
258 4742 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Cambridge analytica just got your personal info like intrest etc for advertisement
First correct your info then start arguing

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Vande Matram
22682 2318 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

but aadhar has your demographic information which could be used for target advertising.

Reply 0 3 Flag Flagged
Chirag Patel
1652 3348 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

How is that more evil than facebook? Fool.

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Vande Matram
22682 2318 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

chewtiye, FB is voluntary .... you post what you want to share ... get it?
don''t be a returd forever

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Jai bajrang bali
8060 16940 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

You fool you can delete your account in Facebook you fool. Can you delete your aadhar you fool?

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Prakash
2580 2420 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Even Facebook was used in the same way, was it not?

Reply 2 0 Flag Flagged
Vande Matram
22682 2318 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

But FB is voluntary ... FB should not be measured to the same privacy standard because what you post on FB, you want to share

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Pankaj Malviya
10513 14487 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Perfect reply sir.

Reply 1 3 Flag Flagged
Ravindra Prasanna Kumar Gulla
27 223 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

This is no less a global conspiracy in Aadhaar

Reply 0 0 Flag Flagged
Vande Matram
22682 2318 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Just read what he said next that access to information has to be managed well. why does he feel so, when their is no risk to privacy from data access?
I think that the reporter has misinterpreted Gates in the report here.

Reply 0 3 Flag Flagged
ranvir mehra
7124 17876 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

But who is going to convince the khangress scamsters who are as dumb as their president. PAPPU.

Reply 71 9 Flag Flagged
Rn Rn
2059 2941 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Gahde ko kitna bhi bolo woh gadha hai, woh nahi manega. That is condition of Kangress President.

Reply 6 5 Flag Flagged
ranvir mehra
7124 17876 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Then why is pappu crying.

Reply 4 1 Flag Flagged
thottufj thottufj
2782 2218 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

Who is going to convince the BJP religious bigots who are as dumb as a stone?

Reply 2 8 Flag Flagged
Pankaj Malviya
10513 14487 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

You are forgetting that Aadhar is a pappu scheme launched by Pappu and his party in 2010..... If you support Aadhar, you are supporting congress.

Reply 3 6 Flag Flagged
Ananta Kr. Roy
7760 17240 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
-

First decide whether you want to support AADHAR or not?!I pity your situation now! Showing true dal badlu colors.ROFLing here!

Reply 3 1 Flag Flagged
Prakash
2580 2420 more points needed to reach next level. Know more about Times Points
- -

Supporting a scheme makes one a supporter of the party? Really? Launched by Papu is difficult to digest. Maybe his Mama made sure he got the credit.

Reply 1 0 Flag Flagged
View more comments
Satpal Jabbal

Kangress Says : Modi Jee Has purchased Bill Gates Also !!

Reply
Shekar

This is a perfect slap on the face of Kapil Sibal and all his associates involved with him mostly from Congress, TMC , etc. etc. ranting for freezing ...

Reply
ranvir mehra

But who is going to convince the khangress scamsters who are as dumb as their president. PAPPU.

Reply
NEXT STORY

India's gold demand dipped 12% last quarter but set to soar on rural purchase: WGC

| May 3, 2018, 01.11 PM IST

Highlights

  • Gold demand may improve through to December as positive monsoon rains and government efforts to raise farmer incomes could boost rural purchases
  • In the last quarter, Indian gold demand fell 12 per cent as jewellery demand dropped to the second-lowest level in ten years

MUMBAI: Indian gold demand may improve through to December as positive monsoon rains and government efforts to raise farmer incomes could boost rural purchases enough to offset higher prices because of the weak rupee, the World Gold Council (WGC) said.

India is the world’s second-biggest gold consumer and higher demand there could support global prices that have risen over 5 per cent since mid-December, although a rise in imports of the metal would widen India’s trade deficit.

The government’s measures to boost rural incomes by increasing the subsidised prices for food grains and the forecast for a normal monsoon rains in 2018 will bolster demand, Somasundaram PR, the managing director of WGC’s Indian operations, told Reuters on Thursday.

“The aggregate demand in April to December would be higher than last year’s three quarters,” he said.

Two-thirds of India’s gold demand comes from rural areas, where jewellery is a traditional store of wealth.

The country is likely to receive average monsoon rains in 2018, the India Meteorological Department said in April, potentially raising farm and economic growth in Asia’s third-biggest economy, where half of the farmland lacks irrigation.

India, which sets a minimum support price (MSP) for nearly two dozen farm commodities, said in its budget in February that the MSP will be set at a minimum of 1-1/2 times the cost of production.

In the quarter that ended in March, Indian gold demand fell 12 per cent from a year ago to 115.6 tonnes as jewellery demand dropped to the second-lowest level in ten years after local prices jumped, the WGC said in a report published on Thursday.

In the local market, gold futures were trading near their highest level in 20 months as the rupee depreciated to the lowest level in nearly 14 months.


Demand also fell as the number of days considered lucky for weddings in the March quarter fell, Somasundaram said.


Last quarter there were only seven auspicious days compared with 22 a year ago. However, the rest of the year will have the same as the same period in 2017, he said.


Gold is an essential part of a bride’s dowry in India and also a popular gift from family and guests at weddings.


India’s gold consumption in 2018 is likely be between 700 and 800 tonnes versus 737.5 tonnes last year, Somasundaram said. Indian demand has averaged 840 tonnes over the last 10 years.

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more Business news in English and other languages.
RELATED
ViewcommentsPost a comment

All Comments ()+

+
All CommentsYour Activity
Sort
Be the first one to review.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message
NEXT STORY

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed John Energy gets Sebi's go-ahead for IPO

| May 3, 2018, 01.07 PM IST

New Delhi, May 3 () John Energy, backed by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, has received markets regulator Sebi's go-ahead to raise an estimated Rs 350 crore through an initial public offering.

The company had filed draft papers with Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in February and obtained its "observations" on August 27, as per the latest update with the regulator.

Sebi's observations are necessary for any company planning to launch public issue like initial public offer (IPO) and follow-on public offer (FPO).

Going by the draft papers, John Energy's IPO comprises fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 218 crore and an offer for sale of up to 16,77,744 scrips by the existing shareholders, including IL&FS Financial Services and India Rig Company.

Proceeds of the issue will be utilised towards repayment of certain borrowings availed by the company and for other general corporate purposes.

According to merchant banking sources, the initial share-sale is expected to fetch Rs 350 crore.

Established in 1987, John Energy is a leading Indian company catering to the upstream and mid stream oil and gas industry.

Jhunjhunwala has 18.21 per cent stake in the company, while ICICI Bank owns 4.47 per cent holding in the firm.

IDFC and Keynote Corporate Services will manage the company's public issue. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

In 2016-17, John Energy reported a consolidated revenue of Rs 582 crore, compared to Rs 565 crore in the previous year. Besides, the firm posted a profit after tax of over Rs 71 crore in 2016-17 against Rs 29 crore in the preceding fiscal. SP SP ANU ANU

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more Business news in English and other languages.
(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is auto–generated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)
RELATED
ViewcommentsPost a comment

All Comments ()+

+
All CommentsYour Activity
Sort
Be the first one to review.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message
NEXT STORY

UIDAI says stringent processes in place, slams enrolment software breach reports

| May 3, 2018, 01.02 PM IST

New Delhi, May 3 () UIDAI today said it follows a "stringent enrolment and updation process" for issuance of Aadhaar cards, and has blacklisted over 50,000 operators for various violations, amid reports of a breach in its enrolment software.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said its enrolment software comes with necessary safeguards and checks to protect against any manipulation, as it discredited the claims in the report as "baseless and false".

The statement comes after reports of alleged tampering of the Aadhaar enrolment software and being sold in the black market, which purportedly bypasses operators' biometric authentication and facilitates issuance of Aadhaar cards without any documents.

Emphasising its "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to ensuring security and safety of its processes, UIDAI said that any operator found to be violating its stipulated processes or those indulging in any type of fraudulent or corrupt practices, are blocked, blacklisted and also face stiff financial penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh per instance.

"Also, all such enrolment attempts get rejected and Aadhaar is not generated. As on date more than 50,000 operators have been blacklisted," the UIDAI added statement said.

The UIDAI said its system matches all the biometric, that is all 10 fingerprints and both irides, of a resident enrolling for Aadhaar with the biometrics of all Aadhaar holders before issuing the 12 digit identifier.

"No operator can make or update Aadhaar unless the resident himself or herself gives his or her biometric. Any enrolment or update request is processed only after biometric of resident is authenticated," UIDAI said.

Detailing the stringent processes followed by it, UIDAI said prior to processing of the enrolment or updation activity, the operator's biometric and other parameters are also checked. Only once all checks are found to be successful, enrolment or updation request of resident is further processed.

"Some of the checks include biometric check of operator, validity of operator, enrolment machine, enrolment agency and registrar, which are verified at UIDAI's backend system before further processing is done. In cases where any of the checks fails, the enrolment request gets rejected and action against such operator is taken", UIDAI added. MBI ANS ANS

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more Business news in English and other languages.
(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is auto–generated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)
RELATED
ViewcommentsPost a comment

All Comments ()+

+
All CommentsYour Activity
Sort
Be the first one to review.
We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message