The case for linking Aadhaar with social media accounts, has become mainstream, following the filing of a transfer petition in the Supreme Court by Facebook. Aadhaar linkage to Social Media is being is supported by many panelists on TV, proposing it for a solution for fake news, trolling, and generally for regulating behavior online. Our take in response to some of the comments being made: 1. On the idea that Social Media accounts should be linked to Aadhaar MediaNama's take: Violation of the Supreme Court verdict on Aadhaar: The Supreme Court explicitly struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which enabled private parties to link Aadhaar to Social Media. Thus, unless a Supreme Court bench with more than 5 judges overturns that verdict, no government or court can order Aadhaar linking of social media accounts. This idea isn't even being considered: Please note, this particular plea for linking, was made in the Madras High Court by Antony Rubin. The Madras High Court itself has said that the Aadhaar linkage with Social Media is not possible. As per our report, even the Attorney General of India K.K. Venugopal, who represented the State of Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court in this case said that linking of Aadhaar with Social Media isn't being considered, saying "That is not the focus now. It is now about cybercrime." Notes from those proceedings here. Do you really want private parties, including Facebook, to get Aadhaar numbers? In the absence of a privacy law, data…
