We have not asked for our number to be included in phonebooks, clarifies UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on August issued a statement as people across the country woke up puzzled when they discovered that a toll-free helpline number had been saved in their phonebooks by default. The UIDAI denied any connections with the claims that it had directed telecom operators, phone makers or Google to include a helpline number for its ID card project Aadhaar across the country.

“In the wake of some media reports on default inclusion of UIDAI’s outdated and invalid Toll free number 1800-300-1947 in contact list of Android phones, it is clarified that, UIDAI has not asked or communicated to any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever. It is emphasised that the said 18003001947 is not a valid UIDAI Toll free number and some vested interest are trying to create unwarranted confusion in public. Our valid Toll free number is 1947 which is functional for more than the last two years. UIDAI has reiterated that it has not asked or advised anyone including any telecom service providers or mobile manufacturers or Android to include 18003001947 or 1947 in the default list of public service numbers,” the UIDAI said in a statement issued on Twitter.

… It is clarified that, UIDAI has not asked or communicated to any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever. 2/n

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018

Our valid Toll free number is 1947 which is functional for more than the last two years. 4/5

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018

UIDAI has reiterated that it has not asked or advised anyone including any telecom service providers or mobile manufacturers or Android to include 18003001947 or 1947 in the default list of public service numbers.
#### 5/5

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018

Elliot Alderson, a French Security Expert asked UIDAI on Twitter: “Many people, with different providers, with and without an #Aadhaar card, with and without the Aadhaar app installed, noticed that your phone number is fed-in their contact list by default without their knowledge. Can you explain why?”

A huge uproar was in order over the authenticity of the claims made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman RS Sharma’s open Aadhaar challenge to critics and hackers and a buzz was created on Twitter over the UIDAI issue.

Sharma had previously created an uproar on Twitter by sharing his 12-digit Aadhaar number on July 28. Ethical hackers at that point in time had exposed at least 14 personal details of the TRAI chairman, including mobile numbers, home address, date of birth (DoB), PAN number and voter ID, among others.

Also Read: TRAI Chief’s daughter threatened, hacker warns of leaking personal data