Aadhaar Card Digital ID In Google Wallet: Google is expanding its footprint in the digital identity landscape in India as it has now started rolling out support for Aadhaar credentials in its own Google Wallet. The California-based tech giant now allows users to store a digital version of their Aadhaar cards on their devices, issued by the Unique Identification Authority Of India (UIDAI). The tech giant has expressed that this will make it seamless for people to use their Aadhaar cards without physically carrying them.
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Google Expands Its Digital Identity Footprint
People in India can now store their Aadhaar-verifiable credentials on their smartphones themselves with the help of Google Wallet. The digital ID being introduced is designed to be secure and fully under user control. It works on a consent-based system with on-device encryption, which means your data stays on your phone. In addition to this, there are other features such as selective disclosure, whereby you get to decide what information you wish to disclose. As far as Aadhaar goes, it is now incorporated into Google Wallet, and thus its aim seems to be geared towards simplifying day-to-day operations. For instance, PVR Inox can use it for age checks and rewards, BharatMatrimony for verified profiles, Atlys for quicker form filling, and Mygate for verifying delivery or service personnel. More platforms like Snabbit are also expected to come on board soon.
Once you add your digital Aadhaar to Google Wallet, it can be used for both in-person checks and online verification. That said, Google is clear about one thing. This isn’t meant to replace your physical Aadhaar card, but rather to complement it for supported use cases.
On the privacy side, Google is putting a lot of emphasis on security. Your Aadhaar details are stored in an encrypted format directly on your device, not on the cloud. Nothing gets shared unless you allow it, whether it’s your name, address, or any other detail. There are also a few restrictions in place. You can only link one Aadhaar per account, and access is locked behind your device authentication.
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This move isn’t limited to India either. Google is rolling out similar digital ID features in other regions as well. Users in Singapore, Taiwan, and Brazil can now create ID passes using their passport details and store them in Google Wallet. These can then be used for identity or age verification across different services, depending on where they’re accepted.