Telcos Can Soon Issue New SIM Cards Using Face Authentication Feature for Aadhaar, Says UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which announced the face authentication feature for Aadhaar earlier this year, today stated that it would start the rollout of the feature in a phased manner. The feature will start rolling out with telecom service providers from September 15. When UIDAI announced the face recognition feature, it thought of starting the service from July 1, which was later pushed to August 1. However, the Aadhaar body today confirmed the rollout is finally happening starting with telcos. It has also proposed a monetary disincentive for telcos found slipping on the prescribed targets from mid next month.

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For authentication agencies other than telecom service providers (TSPs), UIDAI said specific instructions will be issued on implementation of face authentication feature, but did not give a fresh deadline.

Significantly, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has further said ‘live face photo’ capture and its verification with the photo obtained in eKYC will be essential in those cases where Aadhaar is used for issuance of mobile SIMs.

UIDAI says the move is aimed at curbing the possibility of fingerprint spoofing or cloning, and seeks to tighten the audit process and security around issuance and activation of mobile SIMs.

It may be recalled that in June this year, a Hyderabad-based mobile SIM card distributor had forged Aadhaar details for activating thousands of SIMs.

“This instruction (for matching live face photo with eKYC photo) will apply only where Aadhaar is used for issuance of SIMs. As per Telecom Department’s instructions, if SIM is issued through other means without Aadhaar, then these instructions will not apply,” UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI.

UIDAI has proposed a two-factor authentication for the use of face recognition by telcos. Where an individual provides Aadhaar number, the authentication will be done using fingerprint or iris and face. For individuals providing Virtual ID, the authentication can be on the basis of fingerprint or iris.