UIDAI Launches New Aadhaar App With Face Scan Authentication, Aiming to Simplify Digital Identity Verification

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched an updated Aadhaar app for smartphones, which allows users to verify their identity using facial recognition, eliminating the need for physical Aadhaar cards or photocopies.

The software, which was revealed at the Aadhaar Samvaad event in Delhi, confirms a person's identification using the smartphone's camera and a QR code scanner.  It's intended to make authentication faster and more secure, particularly when checking in at hotels, shops, or offices.

This is how it works:

• Users start the app and enter their security PIN.
• A masked digital version of their Aadhaar is displayed.
• They scan a QR code issued by the service to verify their identification.
• If they agree to advance, the app prompts the user to align their face within a circle on the screen and blink to complete the face scan.

The software then confirms the user's identity without immediately sharing any personal information with the service provider, unless the user formally permits.

While this provides convenience and safety by decreasing paper consumption and the possibility of document forgery, experts remain concerned about biometric data protection.  Because face features and fingerprints cannot be changed like passwords, a data breach might have serious effects.

UIDAI ensures that the app prioritises user consent and data security.  For the time being, it is only available to a small set of testers, with a wider deployment anticipated following feedback collection.

This new Aadhaar app has the potential to transform the way identity verification is done in India, but balancing creation and privacy is still crucial.

This article is based on information from Gadgets 360