Dhaka, Feb 17 (V7N) –The Election Commission (EC) has decided to revise and introduce changes to the National Identity Card (NID) verification service to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of citizens' personal information.
SM Humayun Kabir, director general of the EC’s National Identity Registration Wing, shared the update while speaking to journalists on Monday afternoon.
Under the new system, contracted organizations will no longer have direct access to all NID details by simply providing the NID number and date of birth, he added.
"Instead, they must submit an online request to the EC using the individual’s name and date of birth for verification. The EC will then confirm whether the provided information is accurate."
Humayun said 182 government and private organizations currently use the EC's NID verification service.
He continued: "Previously, these organizations received NID details directly after inputting an individual's name and date of birth, allowing them to verify the data themselves. However, under the revised system, the EC will now handle the verification process.
"Contracted organizations will submit verification requests through the system and the EC will respond with confirmation of accuracy."
The official mentioned that some organizations have recommended incorporating the individual’s photograph for further validation, which the EC considers feasible.
Humayun said the EC previously terminated its agreement with the Bangladesh Computer Council following specific allegations, adding that subsequent investigations revealed that various entities and individuals were engaging in unauthorized NID-related activities online.
"The EC’s technical team detected instances of data leaks from several organizations, prompting their immediate shutdown. To strengthen data security, discussions were held with contracted organizations to address vulnerabilities. To enhance oversight, the EC has also decided to monitor service-receiving organizations more closely."
He said a specialized team, including members of law enforcement agencies and security experts, will be formed.
This team will have the authority to conduct system checks at any organization at any time, ensuring compliance and identifying security breaches, Humayun added.
If any irregularities are found, legal action will be taken against the responsible parties, he warned.
END/MSS/AJ
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