Creation of a comprehensive database- Unique Identification Number (UID) and National Population Register is suspect because :
1. State already has enormous and highly disproportionate power in its dealings with the citizenry. The relationship is already skewed. Once a comprehensive database is created there is no way to protect who will use it for what purposes.
2. History has umpteen examples of use of such data for diabolic purposes, such as IBM created census data abused by the Nazis for identifying, locating, and finally abusing Jews. In 1984, a pogrom conducted by Congress goons against the Sikhs after Indira Gandhi’s assassination relied upon voters-list in some instances (I was witness to this) to reach & target Sikh households in affluent areas.
3. No guarantees can be given or accepted against the stealing of the data by unauthorized agencies – both state and non-state actors for their own purposes. Insurance companies in the west have accessed and stored data about genetic/ prenatal and post natal defect to deny medical insurance cover to affected individuals.
In short in an already asymmetric world, it will be suicidal to be a silent bystander and passively observe creation of an “information-asymmetry” that could prove disastrous. Information Monopoly has to be resisted at all cost as any centralization leads to abuse. Instead, information democracy (read transparency) needs to be fought for and strengthened.
In the letter Gopal Krishna of Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties argues makes a case against UID.
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