Join us through the livestream for the launch of the Jury Report of the People's Tribunal on Aadhaar-related Issues.

To know more about the Jury report and to access a digital copy, see this thread https://twitter.com/no2uid/status/1311962644211851264?s=19

Starting off proceedings, @praavita introduces the panelists: Sr. Adv. Meenakshi Arora, economist Dr. Reetika Khera, and health rights activist and medical ethics professional Dr. Sunita Bandewar @roadscholarz @jsa_india

Dr. Khera is now speaking about her introduction to Aadhaar and how she got involved in the debate. What has been frustrating is that we've been stuck in the same place, and not been able to change the perception of people regarding the impact of Aadhaar on welfare.

Explains how the basics need to be explained again and again, for instance that Aadhaar doesn't really solve the corruption. Says ration dealers who used to get people to sign in a register without giving them due ration entitlement do the same with biometric authentication

At the state level, even among the political class, there is understanding of the damages of Aadhaar. We need to find out what is happening between the Centre and states to understand why states are told to pressurize people to link their Aadhaar numbers to welfare schemes

The "middle class" (actually the top 10%) started getting affected when Aadhaar linking crept into bank accounts and mobile services. Social media attention increased and media took notice as well.

Aadhaar and other technologies are revealing a government - corporate nexus with people forced to fight for their rights.

Takes the example of Aarogya Setu to say that there was a furore within seven days, compared to the seven years it took for publi outrage on Aadhaar

Aadhaar also tells us a lot about democratic processes. What we got from the Supreme Court, the govt road-rollered over within a few months. Dr. Khera concludes with stressing the need to take the conversation beyond Whatsapp groups and social media.

Sr. Adv. Meenakshi Arora, speaking next, starts by describing her involvement with the Aadhaar matters (in the SC). She was told the govt wants to link #Aadhaar with everything: bank accounts, property, etc.

Talks about how Aadhaar can enable 360° surveillance, and just that being possible was enough for her to oppose it. But Justice Chandrachud apart, none of the other judges took much notice of it.

Discusses her own experience trying to open a demat account with a private sector bank to illustrate that private sector entities are still looking to mine Aadhaar data. She describes Aadhaar as the bridge connecting different silos of information.

Ms. Arora quotes the #AadhaarTribunal report to add that the jury was "unanimous in its verdict that Aadhaar project facilitates surveillance by function creep."

She now compares how the case proceeded in our Supreme Court with how the challenge to the UK's id project proceeded.

Concludes by reiterating Dr. Khera on the govt road-rollering over the gains in the Supreme Court.

Note: the jury report can be accessed at the link below https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h6W3B2FQDAWUAyCfdFPaaq727QnoEpYg/view?usp=sharing

Dr. Sunita Bandewar speaking next about what is happening in the bioethics sphere, based on her engagement with Aadhaar since 2011. Dr. Bandewar flags that community engagement is often "talking to the converted".

Rewinds to 2011, when Nandan Nilekani had submitted a paper in the NMJI (2011 May-June issue) and she had rebutted the article. See link below for details: https://drsylviakarpagam.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/the-uidai-project-why-some-of-the-optimism-might-be-nir-aadhar/

Dr. Bandewar talks about the #AadhaarTribunal evidence book and jury report, especially the evidence book being a living document which others can add to over time.

Speaks of her long engagement with data sharing and data privacy concerns. Takes the example of the GDPR to emphasise the importance of strong regulations and regulatory frameworks which take care of people's rights and privacy.

She finds it intriguing that in 70 years of democracy, there was little engagement with such concerns until the Aadhaar project came along. Technological solutions, without considering the "buts" and the caveats, can turn into technocratic approaches.

The political class doesn't pay attention to health from the perspective of social determinance. Elaborates how the Aarogya Setu app was designed by NIC with private players.

Note: @no2uid is live-tweeting as well, through this thread. https://twitter.com/no2uid/status/1311961683108130816?s=19

Dr. Bandewar stresses that there is a commercial interests in creating apps like Aarogya Setu and prioritising commodification of data is leading to sidelining welfare schemes and health rights.

Cites the #AadhaarTribunal in underlining how mandating Aadhaar for health is a matter of life and death - persons who've died should have an Aadhaar so that the family can get their death certificates.