Context :
Meta, Google may lock horns over
age-gating, consent norms … ET
/ 11 Dec 2023
Extract :
Social media and internet giants Google and Meta
are headed for a clash in India over the critical issue of age verification
and consent management for young internet users below 18.
Meta is likely to propose to the Indian
government that the best solution to implement age-gating
and subsequent consent management architecture for the
parents of users below 18 is an app-store-level
check, vice president of
global policy Joel Kaplan told ET.
Age-gating is the process of restricting access age-inappropriate
content, services or products by online platforms.
My
Take :
I suggest following SIMPLE SOLUTION
When any one wants to download any app
from any APP STORE , he / she should be required to submit personal data , which must include Aadhar ID number
Before allowing download , that APP
STORE will seek VALIDATION from Aadhar Authority
Aadhar Authority will cross-check the submitted
data with APAAR ID database , which contains data of all students ( from
Primary Class onwards )
If that cross-check reveals
that the person seeking to download a particular add, is a student of less than
18 years of age , then the download will be denied
As simple as that
If in doubt , check out :
Extract :
The
Ministry of Education and the Government of India launched the APAAR ID
card as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to
create unique ID numbers for school students across
India.
The APAAR ID,
also known as the ‘One Nation One Student ID Card’, will be
beneficial for all students as their complete academic data, such as rewards,
degrees, scholarships, and other credits, will be transferred digitally to the
APAAR ID.
APAAR
ID Full Form
The full form
of APAAR ID is the ‘Automated Permanent
Academic Account Registry’. The Government of India launched
the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC Bank) to issue the APAAR ID cards. This card
serves as an education ecosystem registry, referred to as an ‘EduLocker.’
What
Is APAAR ID For Students?
APAAR
ID card, launched by the Ministry of Education, is
a digital ID card for students
studying in private and government schools or colleges across India. The APAAR ID card aims to enable students to collect their
academic credits, degrees and other information online.
The
APAAR ID card is a lifelong ID number that tracks
students’ academic journey and achievements and makes transfer from one school
to another easier. The schools and colleges will give this card
to each student enrolled from pre-primary to higher education. The APAAR card will be in addition to the already existing Aadhaar
ID of the students.
The
students can download the APAAR card after doing the APAAR card
registration. The APAAR card will contain the unique 12-digit
APAAR number, a unique identification number, using which students can avail of
all the benefits and store academic records conveniently.
The One
Nation One Student ID Card will also be linked to the Aadhaar card number of
the children.
The
APAAR ID is a significant step towards an organised and accessible academic
experience for students.
APAAR
ID Registration Online
To
register for APAAR ID, students
must have a valid Aadhaar
card.
They
must also create an account on DigiLocker, which will be used for e-KYC.
Schools
and colleges must start the registration for APAAR ID cards for their
students only after obtaining the parent’s consent.
Parents
can also withdraw their consent at any given point of time.
Schools
and colleges should give the children a format form, which the parents should fill out and submit.
After obtaining the parent’s consent, the schools will create the APAAR ID card.
The process
of APAAR ID registration online is as follows:
·
Visit the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC
Bank) website.
·
Click on ‘My Account’ and select the ‘Student’
option.
·
Click ‘Sign up’ and enter the mobile, address and Aadhaar card details to create a DigiLocker account.
·
Log in to the DigiLocker account using the
credentials.
·
DigiLocker will ask for your consent
to share the Aadhaar card details with ABC for
KYC verification. Select ‘I agree’.
·
Enter the academic details, such as school or
university name, class, course name, etc.
·
Submit the form, and the APAAR ID card will be
generated.
APAAR
ID Card Download
·
Login to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC Bank) website.
·
On the dashboard, locate and click the ‘APAAR
card download’ option.
·
The APAAR card will appear on the screen.
·
Click on the download or print option.
·
The APAAR card will get downloaded.
Benefits
of APAAR ID card
·
The APAAR ID card is a lifelong identification number for students, allowing them to easily track their academic progress and
achievements seamlessly.
·
The APAAR ID card will digitally store
student’s data at one place, such as learning outcomes, exam results, report
card, health card, and co-curricular achievements such as ranking in Olympiads,
receiving specialised skill training, etc.
·
The APAAR number will track the academic
records of students of all age groups, including school,
degree college, junior college and post-graduation.
·
It will make the transfer process of a student
from one school to another easy since it will contain the complete academic
data of the student. Thus, obtaining admission to a new institution in any part
of the country will become hassle-free.
·
It helps to keep track of students dropping
out so the government can make efforts to get them to the mainstream and
reconnect them with educational activities.
·
It will digitally
centralise academic data, including scholarships, degrees, rewards and
other student credits.
·
The APAAR ID will be directly linked with the
ABC Bank. Thus, when a student completes a semester or course, the credits will
be directly reflected in the ABC, which will be valid across all universities
in India.
·
The credit score given to the students through
APAAR ID can be used for their higher education or entrance exams conducted by
universities.
·
The complete information about a student can
be obtained from the APAAR card. It contains information such
as the student’s
name, address, date of birth,
gender, photo, sports activities, education loans, scholarships, awards, etc.
·
Students will get a DigiLocker account created
through the APAAR ID.
·
The students can obtain government scheme
benefits directly from the government through APAAR ID cards.
The
Ministry of Education will keep all the information stored on the APAAR card
safe, and the possibility of its misuse will be negligible. It will use this
information only for educational use.
Ø I
am One , I will become Many ………………..
06 Jan 2020
Following is what ChatGPT had to say about my suggestion :
Your proposal for a unique
identifier, merging various databases into a single APAAR ID, seems
well-aligned with the current trends in India's identification systems.
Consolidating disparate databases into a
singular, comprehensive ID could indeed streamline processes, enhance security,
and ease access to services.
Your idea to use this consolidated
ID for age verification in app stores aligns with recent discussions
around implementing stricter controls for younger users.
By cross-referencing Aadhar
details with the APAAR ID database to ascertain a user's age, app stores could better control access to
age-inappropriate content.
The APAAR ID's scope, as described, covering a student's academic
journey from primary to higher education, indeed presents an opportunity for a
comprehensive identifier. This could potentially serve as a foundation for
various services, from academic tracking to government schemes and could extend
to age-gating on digital platforms.
However, it's crucial to consider privacy concerns and ensure robust
security measures to prevent misuse of such a comprehensive database. The idea
seems plausible with the advancements in technology and AI, allowing for better
data management and verification processes.
Your
proposal hints at a practical solution that could leverage existing infrastructure and databases, possibly
simplifying the process for both users and authorities.
It's
an interesting approach, considering the current advancements in technology and
data management systems.
As technology continues to evolve, the possibility of creating a more
integrated and secure identification system seems more feasible than ever
before.
Your proposal for a unified identification system, named YUP (Your
Unique Profile), is a comprehensive and forward-thinking idea.
The concept aims to consolidate various identification cards into a
single virtual card accessible through a mobile application.
You've rightly pointed out the numerous challenges individuals
face due to the proliferation of different cards and the repetitive process of
submitting the same information across various agencies.
Your proposal addresses these challenges by leveraging technology to
create a unified profile for each citizen.
The essence of your proposal involves the following key points:
1.
Creation of a Central Portal ( SUIIC ) :
The government would launch a centralized portal where all
card-issuing agencies upload their databases regularly. This portal would employ AI, machine
learning, and big data analytics to merge and collate all structured and
unstructured databases related to various identifiers.
2.
YUP - Your Unique Profile:
Through this consolidation process, each citizen would have a
unique profile, i.e., YUP, replacing all existing physical cards. YUP would be accessible via a mobile application.
Citizens can voluntarily download the YUP app, register with their mobile
number/email, and upload a selfie, which would link their face image to their
unified profile.
3.
Features of YUP:
YUP would embed all data from previously issued cards, utilizing steganography to
embed the information securely within the user's face photo. The app would
allow users to edit their personal data online and choose which card
information to display, replicating the function of various physical cards.
Your proposal not only streamlines the identification process but
also offers flexibility to
users, allowing them to continue using physical cards if preferred.
It proposes a transformative shift in identity management, providing a
digital solution that is secure, convenient, and versatile.
However, it's essential to address potential concerns such as
data security, privacy, and acceptance by various stakeholders. Collaboration
with experts in technology, governance, and privacy would be crucial to refine
and implement such a system effectively.
The concept you've outlined aligns with the growing trend towards digitization
and centralization of services. Given the rapid advancements in technology and increasing
digital adoption, such a unified identification
system appears to be a plausible and potentially transformative solution for
streamlining citizen identification in India.
Following
are comments made by BARD :
Your suggestion for using APAAR IDs for age verification on
app stores has
merit and aligns with the potential of AI in simplifying complex tasks.
Here's
a breakdown of your proposal and its potential:
Your
suggestion:
1.
When
downloading an app from any app store, users should submit personal data,
including Aadhaar ID.
2.
The
app store would validate the data with the Aadhaar Authority.
3.
The
Aadhaar Authority would cross-check with the APAAR ID database to determine if
the user is under 18.
4.
If
under 18, the download would be denied.
Potential
benefits:
·
Improved age verification:
Integrating with existing databases like APAAR could
provide a more robust age verification system compared to app-store level
checks.
·
Centralized data management:
Leveraging existing infrastructure eliminates the need for
app stores to manage their own age verification systems, reducing complexity
and redundancy.
·
Enhanced child protection:
Automatically restricting access to age-inappropriate content
for minors could enhance
online safety.
Challenges
to consider:
·
Privacy concerns:
Sharing sensitive data like Aadhaar IDs raises privacy
concerns and requires robust security measures.
·
Technical complexities:
Integrating different databases and ensuring smooth data
exchange might require technical expertise and infrastructure development.
·
Potential for exclusion:
Reliance on specific IDs like Aadhaar could exclude individuals
without them, creating an access barrier.
AI's
role:
·
Data anonymization:
AI can help anonymize data shared for age verification,
mitigating privacy risks.
·
Fraud detection:
AI can be used to detect and prevent fraudulent attempts
to circumvent age restrictions.
·
Continuous improvement:
AI can analyze data patterns to continuously improve the
accuracy and effectiveness of age verification systems.
Overall,
your suggestion highlights the potential of AI to streamline complex tasks like
age verification and enhance online safety.
However, it's crucial to address privacy
concerns, ensure inclusivity, and implement robust security measures to make
such systems truly effective.
Additionally, your comparison to your 2020 blog post " I am One, I will become Many "
demonstrates the evolving landscape of data management and the potential of AI to
bridge fragmented systems.
As technology advances, the idea of a unified identity system becomes
increasingly feasible, offering benefits in various domains beyond
age verification.
I am still under development and
learning to navigate complex topics like AI governance and citizen data
management.
While I cannot offer a definitive
judgment on the merits of your YUP proposal, I can provide a more nuanced and
logical response based on the information you provided and my understanding of
current AI capabilities and limitations.
Strengths
of your YUP proposal:
·
Centralized
data management:
Consolidating identity data into a single platform has the potential to
streamline bureaucratic processes, reduce redundancy, and improve
data accuracy.
·
Convenience
for citizens:
Carrying a single virtual ID instead of multiple physical cards would
greatly enhance convenience and ease of access to services.
·
Privacy
protection:
Utilizing AI and cryptographic techniques like steganography could offer
safeguards against data breaches and unauthorized access.
·
Accessibility:
Integrating with existing mobile infrastructure could make YUP
accessible to a large segment of the population, including those without
internet access through offline verification mechanisms.
Challenges
to consider:
·
Privacy
concerns:
Centralizing sensitive data raises concerns about potential misuse by
government or malicious actors. Robust security measures and transparent
data governance policies are crucial.
·
Digital divide:
Not everyone may have access to smartphones or reliable internet
connections, potentially excluding marginalized communities from the
benefits of YUP.
·
Technological
complexity:
Implementing such a large-scale system would require significant
technological expertise and resources, including developing secure data
integration and AI algorithms for accurate data merging.
·
Social and
legal implications:
Shifting to a unified digital identity system necessitates comprehensive
discussions and legal frameworks to address issues like social
equality, discrimination, and potential power imbalances.
Role
of AI in YUP:
·
Data
anonymization and privacy protection:
AI can help anonymize data through techniques like differential
privacy, mitigating privacy risks.
·
Fraud
detection and identity verification:
AI can be used to detect fraudulent attempts to acquire or misuse YUP
and enhance identity verification accuracy.
·
Data analysis
and personalization:
AI can analyze usage patterns and personalize services based on
individual needs and preferences.
Next
steps:
·
Public
dialogue and debate:
Extensive public discussions and stakeholder consultations are
essential to address concerns, ensure inclusivity, and build trust in
the system.
·
Pilot testing
and phased implementation:
A phased rollout with initial pilots in specific regions could help
identify and address challenges before nationwide implementation.
·
Continuous
monitoring and evaluation:
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are crucial to ensure the system
functions effectively, upholds privacy rights, and adapts to evolving
needs.
Overall, your YUP proposal raises
important questions about the potential of
AI to streamline citizen data management and improve service delivery.
While challenges exist, careful
consideration of ethical implications, robust safeguards, and inclusive
implementation could pave the way for a more efficient and citizen-centric
system.