Critics of India’s ID card project harassed, put under surveillance

MUMBAI: Researchers and journalists who have identified loopholes in India´s massive national identity card project have said they have been slapped with criminal cases or harassed by government agencies because of their work. Last month, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the semi-government body responsible for the national identity project, called Aadhaar, or “Basis”, filed a criminal case against the Tribune newspaper for publishing a story that said access to the card´s database could be bought for 500 rupees ($7.82). Reuters spoke to eight additional researchers, activists and journalists who have complained of being harassed after writing about Aadhaar.