UIDAI unveils offline verification for Aadhaar: Selective data sharing, QR-based checks

New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has already organised a massive stakeholder webinar to show the future Aadhaar app and the new offline verification ecosystem. More than 250 representatives of various industries were present at the event, and bureaucrats showed how the application could allow conducting secure, paperless and consent-based identity verification without using photocopies and server-based authentication. UIDAI emphasised that the new system will enable it to minimise misuse of Aadhaar information, and the identity checks will be easier for millions of citizens.

UIDAI leadership clarified that the new app will enable users to share the information that they want and not all information that they want because it will offer them the option of full or partial Aadhaar attributes as well as give them the option of comfortable updates and stronger control of data. The future-readiness of the app was also highlighted by the officials, as well as its ease of integration within organisations and its capability to accommodate a large ecosystem of organisations and government bodies.

One of the fundamental attributes of the future Aadhaar app will be selective sharing of Aadhaar attributes. The officials clarified that people will determine what kind of information to provide to a particular service. As an illustration, the only information needed to create an event entry could be a name and photograph and age-restricted purchase entry to limit the options to age verification. The application will also add offline presence (on-device face check) to the application. This will entirely work on the phone of the user and will give a signed confirmation to entities which are called Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) that the user was physically present without any communication with UIDAI servers.

The new system had broad applications that were described by officials. Some of the possible applications are hotel check-ins, access to a gated community, hospital admissions, verification of exams, entry of the delivery workforce, age-restricted purchases, and entry to events and concerts. A process that is QR-based will enable organisations to initiate verification in a secure and real-time manner. The system will focus on streamlining identity checks in the public and private services.

UIDAI mentioned the existing issues of businesses going around authentication regulations by requesting customers to access the Aadhaar information in the UIDAI site through OTP authentication. Authorities observed that this practice is unlawful and were usually put on alert. The new Aadhaar app will aim to offer a legitimate and voluntary solution; that is, it will abolish the financial and technical cost of an entity becoming a full Authentication User Agency.

UIDAI is going to issue new policies shortly to implement the offline verification ecosystem and establish the way in which credentials are to be shared, stored and secured. Any registered organisation can apply online to be an OVSE, finalise the document checks and build the QR-based system of customer checking. It is expected to announce a nominal fee. The officials affirmed that the Aadhaar app was in the final pre-launch stage and was being tested, and it was approaching the industries. The idea is to ensure that the Aadhaar identity sharing is completely secure, paperless and consent-based, and allows a wide involvement of the private sector.