Aadhaar data breach report case: Media fraternity stands by Rachna Khaira

The Rachna Khaira-Aadhaar data breach report case has one again brought to the fore the issue of freedom of media and freedom of speech in India. Khaira, a journalist working with The Tribune, broke the story about Aadhaar data leaks involving details of over one billion Aadhaar cards. 

Following the publication of the report, the Delhi Police has filed an FIR based on a complaint reportedly from a deputy director of the Unique Identification Authority of India, the government body responsible for the entire Aadhaar exercise. 

Khaira, meanwhile, has received the support of the media fraternity, who have called it a case of “shooting the messenger”. The Broadcast Editors Association has condemned the FIR and called it an attack on freedom of speech. 

In a statement issued, the BEA demanded immediate withdrawal of the police case against Khaira, who has been charged under various sections of the IPC, including forgery and cheating. The reporter has been booked under IPC sections 419 (punishment for cheating under impersonation), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 471 (using a forged document) and also under sections of the IT Act and the Aadhaar Act. 

“Such FIRs against journalists exposing systemic flaws is a spiteful kick in the teeth of Indian democracy and the right to free speech and expression.” 

The BEA further stated, “The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is rather expected to take media investigations into data leaks positively. With the Supreme Court declaring privacy fundamental right, measures must be strengthened to protect Aadhaar data. Shooting the messenger is no solution. It’s a toxic trend, which must stop forthwith.” 

Earlier, the Editors Guild of India, too, came out in Khaira’s support. “Filing of the FIR is unfair, unjustified and a direct attack on the freedom of the press,” the Guild said, further adding, “it is clearly meant to browbeat a journalist whose investigation on the matter was of great public interest”. 

The Guild demanded that the concerned Union Ministry intervened and had the cases against the reporter withdrawn, apart from conducting an impartial investigation into the matter.

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