Pre-saved UIDAI number in mobile contacts baffle people: Who is responsible, UIDAI or SIM providers?

Aadhaar and controversy seem to be interlinked. The moment one thinks this might be the end of it all, there comes another one.

In one more such instance that raised privacy concern, people have been finding UIDAI number pre-saved on their mobiles.

What surprised many people is the fact that - how it's showing UIDAI number in phone book without their consent. For an instance, if you type UIDAI in phone book it throws the 11-digit toll-free number, which says not available on dialling.

Entrackr team asked almost 10 people out of which four had pre-saved UIDAI number. All of them had confirmed that they never saved the shown number in their contacts.

This also led to a conversation among Twitterattis over the micro-blogging site.

A lot of people have @UIDAI in their contact list by default. I’m thinking aloud: What if it is only the top of the iceberg?

I really need to know now. If you have an Indian phone firmware, I’m your man, please send it to me! https://t.co/xRVNM72f1u

— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) August 2, 2018

UIDAI is in the phone contact list because mobile service provider is passing this helpline number with sim.

— Kapil (@kapsology) August 2, 2018

When you download the aadhar app it's automatically save in your contact list. What is the prblm if number in saved our contact list?

— Sachin Gurjar (@sachideal) August 2, 2018

Many said this happened because the mobile service providers have been feeding users UIDAI number (as they pre-bundled SoS helpline numbers) without their permission.

Entrackr has asked UIDAI and its CEO for an explanation over such occurrings.

Last week, UIDAI asked people to refrain from using their Aadhaar number on social media after TRAI Chairman RS Sharma accepting a challenge revealed it on Twitter, trying to prove his point that no one can cause any harm knowing Aadhaar number.

Following the tweet, TRAI’s chairman personal details such as mobile number, e-mail ID, residential address, were put out in the public domain by twitter users. Hackers accessed his bank account details and reportedly deposited Rs 1 to him via the Aadhaar-enabled payment service using apps such as BHIM and Paytm.

However, he denied the claim but asked people to not replicate the same on social media.

Update: UIDAI has come up with a series of statements (via Twitter) over pre-saved 11 digits toll-free number in users phonebook.

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.
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— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018