Aadhaar: India's Digital ID Goes Global, Raising Data Concerns
The Indian government's Aadhaar digital ID system, once a welfare tool, is now a global model. Other nations like the Philippines and Morocco are adopting it. Meanwhile, India opens its infrastructure to private companies, such as HyperVerge, a facial authentication firm led by Raghunandan G. This shift raises concerns about data consent and AI surveillance.
Aadhaar, launched in 2009, assigns Indians a 12-digit ID linked to biometric data. It has brought millions into the formal economy and expanded service access. Now, it's being exported, with countries urged to bolster digital capacity and safeguard against AI overreach.
The Indian government has granted select private companies, like HyperVerge, access to Aadhaar's infrastructure. HyperVerge uses machine learning to analyze customer behavior and offers facial authentication services. However, consent for data use is complex, with users often unaware of third-party AI vendors' data processing.
Critics argue that Aadhaar's evolution into a quasi-mandatory infrastructure layer for services like banking and telecom access mirrors the US's REAL ID standard, which centralizes personal data and lowers barriers to surveillance.
As Aadhaar's influence spreads globally, so do concerns about data consent and AI surveillance. India's approach to data monetization, distinct from 'surveillance capitalism', enables private actors to extract behavioral and biometric data with state consent. As Aadhaar's use expands, so must efforts to protect users' data and privacy.
