Something strange is occurring in India. Apparently, a toll-free number for the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is appearing in people's contact list without them adding it, causing many to be outraged and confused.
This problem isn't happening to all phone owners in India and is occurring on Android phones. Despite an outcry on Twitter about the phenomenon, the best part is that most people never even noticed this number lurking in their contacts, until after being informed. Luckily, there seems to be an explanation.
The Indian Express was able to get a response from Google, who took responsibility for the issue, stating that it had added the UIDAI number back in 2014, inadvertently coded in the setup process of the phone for OEMs operating in India. While it isn't a major problem - now that the reasoning behind the number has been exposed -, it did cause quite a scare for some people, as something like this can be seen as a privacy issue.
If you're curious what the UIDAI is exactly, it's a center that was created in 2009 that collects data of the Aadhaar, which is a unique 12-digit identification number that can be obtained by residents of India. While there was some concern for a little while, with many looking for answers, fortunately, Google stepping up and taking responsibility has made this an open and shut case. Simply delete the contact and move along.
Source: The Indian Express, The Verge | Image via UIDAI
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