UIDAI Launches SITAA Scheme To Combat Deepfakes & Strengthen Aadhaar Security

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new initiative called the Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA) to advance digital identity security and combat the growing threats of cyberfraud using AI. 

The initiative aims to develop AI-powered biometric authentication solutions that can detect deepfakes, mask attacks, and spoofing in Aadhaar face authentication. Applications are open until November 15, for challenges including face liveness detection, presentation attack detection, and contactless fingerprint authentication using mobile and edge devices. 

To drive the programme, the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) and NASSCOM have signed agreements with UIDAI as strategic partners. MSH will provide technical mentoring and incubation support, while NASSCOM will assist with industry collaboration and global outreach. Winners will receive support from UIDAI’s partners MeitY Startup Hub and NASSCOM.

“The SITAA pilot opens the door for innovators to translate ideas into practical solutions that enhance the security, reliability, and efficiency of India’s digital identity framework… Startups, academic institutions, and industry partners have the opportunity to contribute to building a future-ready, self-reliant digital identity ecosystem,” MeitY said in a statement. 

In a world where AI is now being extensively used for spoofing across digital channels, there lies a critical importance of safeguarding the Aadhaar system, which is central to India’s digital identity and welfare infrastructure. 

Aadhaar is used extensively for authentication in a wide array of services, including direct benefit transfers, access to social welfare schemes, financial inclusion, and government service delivery. 

However, with growing cyber threats and increasingly sophisticated biometric fraud techniques, ensuring the security and reliability of Aadhaar authentication has become more important than ever.

Amid this, deepfake, which typically involves a cyber criminal using AI to generate likeness of a target, has also emerged as a key issue threatening the privacy of people across social stratas. For instance, actor Akshay Kumar moved the Bombay High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against deepfake videos and other AI-generated content earlier this week.

His plea sought to restrain unknown entities from using his likeness, voice, and name for commercial purposes through manipulated videos and images.

In parallel, the Delhi High Court has also issued directions in similar cases filed by Hrithik Roshan and Kumar Sanu, ordering removal of unauthorised content using their likeness. Earlier, actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had also approached the Delhi HC to protect their digital personas.

To combat deepfakes, the Indian government has introduced legal frameworks, regulatory advisories and specific legislations in recent times. Existing laws such as the Information Technology Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act address impersonation and privacy violations, while advisories from CERT-In require platforms to detect, remove, and report deepfake content promptly. 

Additionally, the Deepfake Prevention and Criminalisation Bill, 2023, proposes criminal penalties for creating and distributing deepfake media without consent or proper watermarking.