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Use of  Aadhaar Biometric in  Forensics

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November 13, 2024

Why in news?

Recent discussions about using Aadhaar biometrics data to identify unknown dead bodies.

What are the challenges in finding identity with the current system?

  • Limited Records - Fingerprint databases for police investigations are often limited to the records of those with known criminal histories.
  • Inadequate Digitization - In many States, these records are not yet digitized, making it even more difficult to cross-reference data quickly and efficiently.
  • Under Reporting – Many of the missing person cases are not registered with police, thus making it to difficult to identify the person.
  • Inadequate Evidences - Victims of hit-and-run accidents without identification documents or mobile phones, or those with mental health issues and travelling to unfamiliar places.

What are the advantages of using Aadhaar in forensic?

  • Identification of deceased individuals Identification of unclaimed or unidentified bodies who are mostly migrant workers, homeless individuals.
  • Finding Missing Person – Identifying missing or trafficked  children, persons with mental health issues traffic.
  • Right to Life and Dignity –  Faster recognition of a deceased person enables for respectful final rites and closure for families.
  • Effective Crime  Investigation –Access to fingerprint data can offer essential scientific support to an investigation.
  • Enhancing Criminal Justice – Effective investigation enhances the criminal justice system.
  • Uphold Public Safety – Crime reduction using Adhaar improves public safety and reduces crime rate.

What are the limitations in using the Aadhaar in forensic?

  • Privacy Protection - UIDAI takes privacy seriously, enforcing strict guidelines to protect individuals’ demographic and biometric information.
  • Biometric Prohibition - Section 33 of Aadhaar Act prohibits sharing of “core biometric information”, which includes fingerprints and iris scans, with anyone for any reason.
  • Restriction in Access - Section 33(1) of the Aadhaar Act allows the disclosure of certain information under an order of a court not inferior to that of a High Court judge.
  • Right to Privacy - Supreme Court Judgement in Justice Puttaswamy case  held  Right to Privacy as a fundamental right protected under Article 21.
  • Data Privacy Law - Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 protects the personal identity data of citizens.
  • Technical Limitation - The technological architecture of UIDAI for Aadhaar-based authentication does not allow for matching prints , including latent and chance finger prints, against the other finger prints in the UIDAI database.

What lies ahead?

  • Re-evaluating privacy restrictions in Aadhaar Act on specific contexts, such as identifying a deceased person.
  • Providing the police with access to a deceased person’s core biometric information, strictly based on a first information report (FIR).
  • Enabling jurisdictional judicial magistrate to authorize the data access instead of High court judges to reduce the burden on the higher judiciary in cases not involving violations of privacy.
  • Similar provisions might be adopted in India to ease identification challenges without compromising privacyImplementing legal and ethical guidelines with transparency can ensure Aadhaar’s continued relevance and secure its place as a trustworthy public utility.

Quick Facts

  • UIDAI – The Unique Identification Authority of India was established in 2009 to build a secure and centralized database that could help in the accurate identification of individuals across the nation.
  • Objective of UIDAI – To streamline and secure identity verification processes, thereby reducing the risk of identity fraud and enabling individuals to access various governmental and non-governmental services.
  • Aadhaar – It is a 12-digit unique identity number based on individual’s demographic and biometric data, such as fingerprints and iris scans.

Reference

The Hindu |Aadhaar biometric data access will aid forensics

 

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