Aadhaar card photocopies will no longer be accepted when booking an OYO room, UIDAI is making a major change
UIDAI is introducing new rules to strengthen Aadhaar security, under which hotels and event companies will not be able to keep photocopies of Aadhaar. After registration, they will be able to perform paperless offline verification using a QR scan or a new app, which will improve privacy and data security.
The Unique Identification Authority of India is implementing a major change to strengthen the Aadhaar card and eliminate paper-based Aadhaar verification.
Under this, companies like OYO, hotel chains, and event organizers will no longer be able to take photocopies of customers' Aadhaar cards, nor will they be able to store them in physical form.
A senior official familiar with the matter said the new rule will be published soon. Keeping photocopies is against the existing Aadhaar Act.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), told PTI that the authority has approved a new rule that will require registration for companies like hotels, event organizers, etc. that want Aadhaar-based verification.
This will provide them with a new technology that will allow them to verify individuals by scanning a QR code or connecting to a new Aadhaar app that is under development.
Rules will be notified soon
Bhavnesh Kumar said that the new rule has been approved by the authority and will be notified soon. This means that the new rule will come into effect soon.
It will make registration mandatory for companies requiring offline verification, such as hotels and event organizers. This is intended to prevent paper-based Aadhaar verification.
The new verification process will also address several operational issues caused by downtime of intermediate servers connecting to the central Aadhaar database.
Entities requiring offline verification will have access to an API (application programming interface) through which they can update their systems for Aadhaar verification.
UIDAI is beta-testing a new app that will enable app-to-app verification without connecting to the central Aadhaar database server for each verification. The new app can also be used at places like airports and shops that require age-specific product sales.
When will the system be operational?
According to the report, paperless offline verification will improve the ease of verification, while also maintaining users' privacy and eliminating the risk of their Aadhaar data being leaked for misuse.
The new app is expected to enhance Aadhaar authentication services in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and will be fully operational within 18 months.
The app will enable users to update their address proof documents on the new app and add other family members who do not have a mobile phone to the same app.