New Aadhaar App Released: No Need for Physical Copies as it Comes With Face ID Authentication

The Centre on 8 April unveiled a new Aadhaar app that enables users to digitally verify and share their Aadhaar details, marking a significant advancement in digital convenience and privacy. Thus, there is no longer a need to provide photocopies or carry actual cards. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Electronics and IT, formally unveiled the app in the nation's capital. The minister emphasised the value of digital innovation and said the app was an attempt to make Aadhaar authentication quicker, simpler, and more secure.

New Features will Make Life Easier for Card Holders

In a video message shared on the social media site X, Vaishnaw claimed that the new Face ID authentication feature of the Aadhaar App will eliminate the need for cardholders to carry a physical card or a photocopy. He went on to say that the app gives users the ability to securely transmit only the information that is required and only with their permission. Users now have total control over their personal information and can share only the information that is required with a single tap, he continued. Face ID identification is one of the app's most notable features; it improves security and streamlines verification. Similar to making a UPI payment, a QR code scan can now be used to verify an Aadhaar account. The minister further explained on X that Aadhaar verification is as easy as using UPI to make a payment. Now, users may securely communicate and digitally validate their Aadhaar information. People will no longer have to present paper copies of their Aadhaar cards at airports, hotels, stores, or other verification locations thanks to this new method.

The App Guarded with Strong Security Features

Strong privacy measures have been incorporated into the design of the software, which is presently under beta testing. It guarantees that Aadhaar information cannot be altered, tampered with, or exploited. Only with the user's consent is information securely shared. Vaishnaw underlined the importance of AI and digital public infrastructure (DPI) in forming India's digital future while referring to Aadhaar as the "aadhaar" (basis) of numerous government programmes. He asked interested parties to offer ideas on how to combine DPI and artificial intelligence (AI) to spur additional growth, with privacy at the centre.

ChatGPT Creates Fake Adhaar and PAN Cards

For Indian citizens, Aadhaar cards—issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)—are an essential form of identification. However, with OpenAI's introduction of GPT-4o's picture-generating feature, this once-secure document is now up against an unexpected new threat. More than 700 million photos have been created by users since the launch of GPT-4o, some of which uncannily mimic actual Aadhaar and PAN cards. Social media users have started posting pictures of AI-generated Aadhaar cards with their own photos on them, which is a concerning trend. Important components like layout, fonts, and style seem incredibly lifelike, even though facial features aren't always flawless. An image of Elon Musk's Aadhaar card was even posted by one user; it was so realistically produced that it seemed like a legitimate government document.