This Article is From Oct 26, 2018

Stop Using Aadhaar To Verify Users, Centre Tells Telecom Companies

The Supreme Court had last month in a landmark verdict restricted the use of Aadhaar by private entities in the absence of a legal provision.

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All India

The centre said Aadhaar cannot be used for verifying existing customers or giving new SIM connections

New Delhi:

The government today ordered telecom companies to stop using Aadhaar for electronic verification of existing mobile phone customers as well as for issuing new connections to comply with a recent Supreme Court order.

The top court had last month in a landmark verdict restricted the use of Aadhaar by private entities in the absence of a legal provision.

To comply with the order, the Department of Telecom (DoT) Friday issued detailed instructions to telecom companies on stopping the use of Aadhaar-based electronic-know your customer (e-KYC) and report compliance by November 5.

Aadhaar e-KYC cannot be used for verifying existing customers as well as giving new SIM connections, DoT said in a three-page circular.

Also, it permitted the use of physical Aadhaar card for giving new connections provided the customer voluntarily offers it.

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