UIDAI searches for more ways to curb Aadhaar, UID fraud

Time of India

7 days ago

Detailing the measures, Bhuvnesh Kumar said UIDAI, the central agency tasked with issuing Aadhaar, plans to impose curbs on frequent changes to birth dates and biometrics, verifying information directly with other official databases, and tapping frontier technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to weed out use of wrong photographs, and incorrect and mixed biometrics.
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The Unique Identity Authority of India ( UIDAI ) is set to implement stringent measures to combat rising instances of fraud through Aadhaar and fake UID numbers, CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar told ET.Detailing the measures, Kumar said UIDAI, the central agency tasked with issuing Aadhaar, plans to impose curbs on frequent changes to birth dates and biometrics, verifying information directly with other official databases, and tapping frontier technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to weed out use of wrong photographs, and incorrect and mixed biometrics.The agency is also making the Aadhar application form completely online and insist that all states switch to documents that are verifiable online, among other measures."If you want to play in a cricket team, they try to reduce their age by two years. If they want to get a job, they want to increase their age by two years. It's a lot of fraud," said Kumar, who assumed charge this January. "People try to game it through multiple birth certificates. We are strongly tightening all those things. Because the integrity of Aadhaar has to be maintained."He said that if someone has to alter the date of birth, it has to be first changed in the original birth certificate, and that the authority will not accept a second birth certificate. "We'll match it from the source," said Kumar, adding UIDAI has managed to get direct access to the original databases of 35 states so far in the last six months and has integrated various documents at the source level such as PAN, CBSE marksheets and MGNREGA records, and is in the process of integrating with others."The idea is that when a resident submits any of the documents for Aadhaar enrolment or updating, the UIDAI will verify the veracity of the document directly from the source to ensure it's not fake," said Kumar. "We are using a lot of technology to make the system more foolproof and increasing the facility," he said, adding the identity platform's technical infrastructure is being continuously upgraded.For instance, UIDAI has developed an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) algorithm to check the genuineness of fingerprints to prevent biometric fraud and ensure that they are of a "live finger". Similarly, AI-based software in cameras is used for age estimation and to confirm that some older person is not applying for a Aadhaar meant for a child which doesn't require biometrics. AI is also used to match a person's photo with photos in the Bureau of Immigration database to check fraud. The UIDAI is also checking the possibility of placing restrictions on the number of times an individual can update fingerprints. Updating fingerprints may make sense for elderly people whose fingerprints may change, but not for young people, and there is no reason why they should be updated again and again, said Kumar.He said there have also been instances where people have mixed their hand and feet biometrics with the aim of committing fraud. Some have even mixed their biometrics with another person to generate a unique combination. The AI/ML will be able to check for such abnormalities, Kumar emphasised. The agency also aims to make applying for Aadhaar an online process.While there is also demand for Aadhaar cards from non-citizens residing in India, the UIDAI is strict about ensuring they apply after the required window of staying in India for 180 days, and that they apply in the correct category. "We have rejected 1,456 applications in the last six months on this basis - that you are a foreigner (but) you have applied in the Indian category," said Kumar.