Twitter records over 300k Tweets around #AadhaarVerdict

Twitter is the best and fastest place to see what’s happening in India and across the world. As Supreme Court yesterday announced the historic verdict by upholding the constitutional validity of Aadhaar, Twitter recorded over 300k related Tweets within 48 hours (Sep 25 - Sep 27, 2018) as Indians across the world exchanged their opinions on the platform regarding the verdict and the contentious provisions on mandatory linking of the unique ID with various non-essential services.

Amidst all dialogue, the conversations on Twitter peaked at 12pm IST on September 26, 2018, and lit up the country as seen in the heat map below. Key hashtags that emerged on Twitter around the subject included: #AadhaarVerdict, Supreme Court, Aadhar, #Aadhaar4Development, Justice Chandrachud, #AadhaarJudgment, aadhaar act, #AadhaarForBanking, #HumHainAadhaarKeSaath, #आधार, सुप्रीम कोर्ट, आधार कार्ड.

The peaked heat signals can be seen here.

Also Read: Facebook uses phone numbers taken for 2FA for targeted advertising

Mahima Kaul (@misskaul), Head- Public, Policy and Government, Twitter India said, “Twitter is the best place to know what is happening in your community, city or country. The conversations surrounding the historic verdict on Aadhar validation by the Supreme Court on the platform surface the diverse viewpoints on the issue and reinforce Twitter as the best place for citizens to participate in real-time discussions on national issues.”

The exchange between Indians across the world on the subject ranged from congratulating the government on the verdict to expressing disappointment on the validation. Some of the Top Tweets in terms of number of Retweets include:

For Congress, Aadhaar was an instrument of empowerment.

For the BJP, Aadhaar is a tool of oppression and surveillance.

Thank you Supreme Court for supporting the Congress vision and protecting ??. #AadhaarVerdict

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 26, 2018

Supreme Court judgement on Aadhaar is a big win for the government.
1) It upholds the validity of Aadhar
2) Opines that it doesn’t infringe on Right to Privacy
3) Makes it mandatory for social welfare programs, tax filings & PAN
4) Quashes surveillance theory #Aadhaar4Development

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 26, 2018

6. NO Indian can be denied his or her right for lack of Aadhaar
7. Aadhaar NOT mandatory for school admissions, exams.
8. NO child can be denied access to a govt scheme for lack of Aadhaar
9. Aadhaar MANDATORY for PAN card/IT return filing. #AadhaarVerdict.

— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) September 26, 2018

.@narendramodi gov has won a HUGE victory,with #Aadhaar being upheld as legally tenable& constitutionally valid#Biometrics cannot be cloned,that illegal migrants should have no recourse to Aadhaar,that Aadhaar will be linked with PAN, ITR& GSTR,are key takeaways

.@BJP4India ?

— Sanju Verma (@Sanju_Verma_) September 26, 2018

So to summarise key bits of the landmark #AadhaarVerdict:
- Aadhaar OK for income tax (PAN), welfare
- OK as money bill (dissenting views)
- Not mandatory for mobile phones and banking
- Authentication by private corporations unconstitutional

— Dhruva Jaishankar (@d_jaishankar) September 26, 2018

Dear Mobile Phone Operators & Banks-You harassed us & forced us to link #Aadhaar to your system-After #SupremeCourt Judgment -Kindly delete the data collected otherwise u shall b considered in possession of stolen property as I withdraw my consent to use my info #AadhaarVerdict

— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) September 26, 2018

Remember the dissenting opinion of Justice D Y Chandrachud. Years later, when we are gone, the country will cite it some day to regain its lost freedoms. #AadhaarVerdict

— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) September 26, 2018