UIDAI Adds Face Recognition As Added Layer Of Aadhaar Verification

In order to mitigate the chaos surrounding the security of Aadhaar details of the citizen, UIDAI has introduced another measure – Aadhaar face recognition. The move will come into effect from July 1, 2018.

The Unique Identification Authority of India has enabled face recognition as an additional choice for biometric verification for Aadhaar, in addition to iris and fingerprint scans. To be noted, this option will only work as an additional layer of security with the existing biometric means of authentication.

With this UIDAI is aiming to serve two purposes at the same time. The initiative will not only help users who are unable to verify their biometric details through the existing means, but will also an bring additional layer of data security.

UIDAI CEO, Ajay Bhushan Pandey said in a media statement,” The idea behind the facility was to “rule out” possibility of anyone even attempting to misuse biometric information. “

As observed by the analysts earlier, certain people due to their old age or hard work or some other reason get their fingerprints worn-out and therefore, were facing challenges in meeting the Aadhaar verification criteria. Thus, the facility is expected to help such individuals.

UIDAI will be working with biometric device providers in order to integrate face modality with the certified registered devices. It may also provide standalone registered devices, depending on the requirement.

The Aadhaar issuing body is also expected to lineup a software development kits that will have the ability to capture face image, create digitally encrypted authentication inputs which could be used later for verification.

Notably, the development has come days after the UIDAI announced to make use of virtual IDs and limited KYCs to add another layer of data protection. The 16 digit virtual ID number allows the user to use it in place of sharing Aadhar details with authentication agencies, minimising the possibility of data abuse.

UIDAI has taken a proactive approach to minimize the damage done to the credibility of the Aadhaar project since the reports of possible data breach flared in multiple investigations conducted by numerous agencies led by The Tribune.

However, in between all the controversies the entire Aadhar project found international takers with 20 countries including Russia, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Singapore showing initial interests in the Aadhaar kind of project in their own territories with the facilitation support of the World Bank.

Thus making it further mandatory for UIDAI to take additional data security measures for Aadhar to make it a globally standardised product. And we believe, the recently taken measures of using face recognition as well as virtual ids and limited KYC, will certainly help UIDAI in making its ambitious Aadhaar project successful.

[The development was reported by ET.]