Aadhaar data stolen: Vendor linked to CIA refutes WikiLeaks' claims

Refuting WikiLeaks' claims that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US has cyber-spying tools devised by technology provider Cross Match Technologies to extract Aadhaar data of Indian citizens, the vendor has now reiterated its commitment towards privacy.

For those who have been living under the rock, a recent report from Wikileaks claimed that Cross Match Technologies, which is a US-based company and among the first suppliers of biometric devices for India's popular Aadhaar program, may be helping CIA to gain access to the Aadhaar data.

Now, according to a report by Gadgets360, Vice President of Global Marketing for Cross Match Technologies, John Hinmon, said that the company hasn't stored or processed any personal information of Indian citizens.

The report adds that Crossmatch’s tools capture, store and process data under privacy protocols defined by that end user. And, they are only accessed by 'administrative users.'  

Here's the tweet by Wikileaks:

Have CIA spies already stolen #India's national ID card database? #aadhaar #biometric https://t.co/zqJmkaoiw8 #modi

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) August 25, 2017

Meanwhile, government sources have denied the news and dismissed the report as baseless, according to a Times of India report. "The reports do not have any basis in fact. Aadhaar data is safely encrypted and is not accessible to any other agency," the report quoted the source as saying.