3 ms·
> This is common in almost every country that has central ID system. Not true. The US has a Social Security Number but it is not needed for everyday business u
by OutOfHere 2y ago
> This is common in almost every country that has central ID system.
Not true. The US has a Social Security Number but it is not needed for everyday business use. It is not needed for getting a cell phone number, for example. In India, the Aadhaa card is needed for getting a cell phone number.
- stackskipton 2y agoIt's required for getting postpaid cellular plan. It's also required to do banking so credit/debit card you give them, they likely can use that to backtrack.
- reaperducer 2y agoIt's required for getting postpaid cellular plan. Nope. I got a new cellular device on a national carrier last year without giving up my SSN.
- stackskipton 2y agoPlan, not device. If you have a plan, they have your SSN already and ran soft credit check likely when you bought your device.
- reaperducer 2y agoIt was a new plan, too. This is my first device with this carrier.
- ElevenLathe 2y agoBiggest one is probably health insurance. I'd be surprised if you can get any (private, employer-sponsored, ACA exchange, Medicaid, Medicare) health insurance plan without an SSN. Medicare at least makes sense since it is administered by the Social Security Administration.
- kelipso 2y agoDon't know the details but the cell phone number thing is due to terrorism reasons and mandated by the government, not due to individual businesses choosing to. Used to be you could just buy sim cards using cash.
- alephnerd 2y agoThe US doesn't actually have a central ID system. SSA is de facto used as one, but it isn't actually mandated. The Aadhaar system is based on Malaysia and Singapore's National Registration ID Card (MyKad/IC respectively) system, as both countries had similar needs to India's for distributing benefits and validating identity.
- geodel 2y agoRight. If you are a rich country there is enough margin in business or resources for government agencies to use alternatives with people who don't provide SSN. The total cost of implementing Aadhar system is less than couple of months of SSA admin expenses. Median per capita income tax in US is $15K and in India it would be 200-300 dollars. The point is at that level of revenue and expenses the quality of service, privacy, sensitivity to ones belief, one can expect from government is very low. Complaining about Aadhar is more in tune of complaining about wine selection at Dollar store. This even if obviously true hardly rises to level of public welfare.
- captn3m0 2y agoYou can get a SIM without an Aadhaar in India. I have one, and the author does have one as well. It’s just that while it is legal to get one, each telco will make it extremely hard to do so.