The Unique Identification of India is all set to roll out a new measure that makes facial recognition mandatory or every authentication that requires Aadhaar verification. This will be an additional feature along with the regular authentication process and will be introduced on September 15. Aadhaar is mostly required to avail the services like SIM cards for mobile phones, authentication at banks, public distribution systems and to mark attendance at government offices. So far only Aadhaar number along with one’s fingerprint or iris biometric scan was required to avail these services.
Facial recognition made mandatory for services, Aadhaar era well & truly begins in India.
India is leap frogging in adaptation of #Technology than another other Emerging Economy. It is not just #DigitalIndia but Digital Transformation of India @rsprasad https://t.co/VvlHMP7ZT3— Siddarth Pai (@siddarthpaim) August 24, 2018
According to this additional process, a picture of the person’s face would be taken along with the previous details, which will be send to UIDAI collectively. The UIDAI has a record of all the photos fed in its database where it will compare to confirm the authentication of the image that is taken on the spot of the individual seeking verification.
An official circular has been sent to all the Authentication User Agencies, Authentication Service Agencies and certified biometric device providers by the authority and have been asked to start the practice from September 15. Any negligence or oversight in the process would be termed as a criminal offense by authentication agencies and will be subjected to a punishment of imprisonment and fine under section 42 N 43 OF Aadhaar Act 2016.
“After we hit 10 per cent of authentication transactions, we will have a review of any possible shortfalls in the systems or processes. Thereafter, we will expand, within telecom and also to other service areas,” said UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey while speaking to TOI.
According to UIDAI, this move is an attempt to curb the possibility of fingerprint spoofing or cloning.
