Lok Sabha Question No. 857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Facial Recognition for Aadhaar
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI, SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 857

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07-02-2018

## FACIAL RECOGNITION FOR AADHAAR

## 857. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI: PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is going to introduce facial recognition in Aadhaar authentication and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  a  safety  assessment  of  this  additional  authentication  feature  of  facial  recognition  has  been done and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the security implications from the use of poor resolution cameras in  this  facial  recognition  authentication  process  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government is cognizant of the technologies used to cheat the facial recognition software and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the existing Aadhaar card holders have to replace their existing cards and if so, whether the UIDAI authorities will open camps to start up the face recognition camps all over the country; and

(f) the main concerns regarding safety of the existing Aadhaar cards/data and the steps the Government is taking in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a)  to  (d): Unique  Identification  Authority  of  India ( UIDAI),  under  Ministry  of  Electronics  and Information Technology, has decided to introduce facial authentication. Face authentication by itself will not be used for identity verification, instead it is meant for inclusive authentication for those who are not able  to  authenticate  using  fingerprint  or  iris.  It  shall  be  used  in  combination  with  other  mode  of authentication like finger/iris or OTP as a second factor of authentication.

UIDAI  has  been  using  camera  for  face  capture  for  all  Aadhaar  enrolments.  All  cameras  used  within Aadhaar ecosystem are regular cameras which are safe for day to day use.  Face authentication will also use standard cameras that are deemed safe for day to day use.

Security  aspects  used  in  the  authentication  ecosystem  with  respect  to  biometric  authentication  like encryption, Registered Devices, biometric locking / unlocking, notification etc. shall also apply to face authentication.

(e):  No Sir. There is no need to replace existing cards. UIDAI has already captured photo of the face for all the Aadhaar number holders during enrolment and shall be used for face authentication.

(f):    UIDAI has a well-designed, multi-layered robust security system in place to maintain the highest level  of  data  security  and  integrity  in  accordance  with  Chapter  VI  (Protection  of  Information)  of  The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, Aadhaar

(Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, Aadhaar (Authentication) Regulations, 2016, Aadhaar (Data Security) Regulations, 2016 and Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulations, 2016. ******