Keir Starmer is reportedly considering India's Aadhaar digital identity system as a model for the UK, but the scheme has drawn sharp criticism from digital rights activists who warn of privacy breaches and exclusion of the poor.
Introduced 15 years ago, Aadhaar is now ubiquitous in India, required for activities from buying a house to getting a SIM card. While not mandatory, not having it effectively means the state does not recognise one's existence, activists say. For some, like textile business owner Umesh Patel, it has been a boon: 'It's a robust system that has made life much easier... it's good for security.'
But others argue it has become exclusionary. The poorest and least educated, lacking documents to obtain Aadhaar, are deprived of welfare and work. Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation calls it 'digital coercion', adding that 'your very basis to live is checked at each and every step'. Critics also point to data breaches, including a 2018 incident where details of 1.1 billion Indians were sold online for as little as £5.
The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has championed Aadhaar as a success, claiming it saved $22bn by curbing corruption. Over 1.42 billion Aadhaar numbers have been issued, making it the world's largest digital ID scheme. However, privacy advocates say India's draft data protection law lacks transparency and oversight, raising fears of surveillance.
