 "Authenticity on matrimonial sites: Aadhaar to save you from stalkers, serial daters")
As a fall out of the recent rape incident by a Uber driver, who managed to get employed with the US-based taxi aggregator without any background check, the government is cracking down on fake profiles-be it drivers or potential marriage candidates- by demanding authentication through Aadhaar cards.
According to a report in the Economic Times, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has suggested using Aadhaar card details to authenticate profiles on matrimonial sites so that women are not duped bystalkers, serial daters and married men posing as single and available.
[caption id=“attachment_91257” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A still from the film[/caption]
Currently an ID proof is not mandatory in any matrimonial site. Bharatmatrimony.com recently started a system wherein an interested user can have an “online trust badge” and a “professional trust badge” added to his profile by attaching an ID proof like ration card, Aadhaar or any authentic ID, latest educational certificates and salary certificates,the report pointed out.
While Gandhi wants to make compliance mandatory by early next year, there is no mechanism to check illegal photocopying of Aadhaar or forging of the same.With no centralised database of Aadhaar cards, the users can only be provided an image of the Aadhaar card which can be easily photoshopped. Secondly, Aadhaar cannot look into impersonation frauds such as lying about one’s height or salary.
The government’s logic behind the move is idiotic to say the least: people with Aadhaar cards are unlikely to be criminals or frauds.
Given this (il)logic, it should start using Aadhaar authentication must for all internet-related activities.
Think of logging on to dating tinder app with your Aadhaar number. Hilarious, isn’t it?
As Rajyashree Sen rightly points out in this blog, “While Manekaji’s concern for the welfare of women looking for a groom online is endearing, maybe she should let the women who have access to the internet and are educated, focus on finding their husbands themselves. If you’re on a matrimonial site, the least you can do is some due diligence before saying ‘I do’. Is this what we want our minister for women and child development to spend her time doing?..do we want the government to interfere in this manner into our marital or romantic lives?”
Checkout a few Twitter responses below:
Govt Wants Matrimonial Websites To Use Aadhar Card Authentication! http://t.co/eHhR2mtwDG Next do DBT of Dowry too! pic.twitter.com/eEfPh0sLQ0
— Jairaj P (@jairajp) December 16, 2014
Dear @narendramodi asking matrimonial sites to use Aadhar cards to authenticate profiles is not "minimum government, maximum governance".
— Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) December 16, 2014
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