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Surveillance: “Aadhaar” the most complete biometric database in the world

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In 2009, India began implementing the “Aadhaar” system. What was initially considered a
project to more efficiently manage aid to the country's poor, soon became a plan to issue a
&quot;unique identification number&quot;, and is now the most powerful identification database ever
created. Today, more than 1.3 billion Indians are in the system. Registration into the program
was voluntary, at first, but then became mandatory. And after years of government use and
abuse, the India's Supreme Court has begun to limit its reach. How does Aadhaar affect the
population? Was the initial goal every achieved, or has it only served to widen the gap
between rich and poor?