NEW DELHI: The Indian government named a reporter in a police complaint after she wrote an article alleging a data breach in a federal identity database, drawing criticism from a journalist group that accused officials of trying to muzzle free speech.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which runs the world’s largest biometric identity card scheme called “Aadhaar,” started investigating a report last week by The Tribune newspaper which said access to the identity database of more than 1 billion citizens was being sold for just 500 rupees, or $8, on social media.
UIDAI on Sunday said four people were named in its complaint to police in New Delhi to investigate the incident, including the reporter, and also her newspaper, which is based in the north Indian city of Chandigarh.
The Editors Guild of India condemned UIDAI’s action, saying it was designed to “browbeat a journalist.”
“It is unfair, unjustified and a direct attack on the freedom of the press,” the Guild said in a statement on Sunday.
The UIDAI said in a statement on Sunday that it respects freedom of press, adding that it was duty bound to name everyone involved in the incident, including the reporter.
“It does not mean that those who are named in the report are necessarily guilty,” the authority said.
The Tribune newspaper said it regretted the decision of the authorities.
India last year slipped three places to 136th in the World Press Freedom Index of 180 nations, compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
Journalists in India have increasingly become targets of online smear campaigns, with prosecutorial actions being used to gag journalists who are overly critical of the government, the group said.
The Tribune newspaper last week reported that it was able to buy login credentials to the government’s Aadhaar database, allowing it to acquire information such as the names, telephone numbers and home addresses of millions of people.
The alleged breach is the latest in the Aadhaar program, which is facing increasing scrutiny over privacy concerns.
After the report was published, the UIDAI said the “case appears to be an instance of misuse.”
The Aadhaar scheme was introduced in 2009 to streamline welfare payments and reduce wastage in public spending. Since then, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been keen to mandate the use of Aadhaar for everything from filing income taxes to the registration of mobile phone numbers and booking railway tickets.
India sparks outcry over press freedom by naming journalist in probe on database breach
India sparks outcry over press freedom by naming journalist in probe on database breach
Musk’s AI bot Grok limits image generation on X to paid users after backlash
- AI tool was used to create sexualized images, sparking widespread criticisms
- The standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, still allows users to generate images without a subscription
LONDON: Elon Musk’s startup xAI has restricted the image generation function on its Grok chatbot on social media platform X to paid subscribers, after the tool’s use of AI to create sexualized images sparked a widespread backlash.
The chatbot’s image generation had allowed users on X to edit or create sexualized photos, which Reuters found was used to generate images of women and children in minimal clothing, often without the consent of the individuals depicted.
A torrent of semi-nude images on X led to European lawmakers urging legal action, with German media minister Wolfram Weimer describing them as the “industrialization of sexual harassment” and the European Commission calling them illegal.
Grok told X users on Friday that image generation and editing features were now available only to paying subscribers.
The standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, still allows users to generate images without a subscription.
A Reuters reporter asked Grok on X to convert a picture of himself into one wearing a bikini, echoing what has become a common request over the last week by users. The bot did not do so and posted in reply that the tool was only available to paying subscribers of the social media platform.
In what seemed to be an automated response, xAI replied to an emailed Reuters request for comment by saying “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The European Commission said on Monday such images circulating on X were unlawful and appalling, while Britain’s data regulator said it had asked the platform to explain how it was complying with data protection laws following concerns that Grok was generating sexually abusive images of women.
Musk said last week that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as uploading such material directly.
