“The efficiency, security, and quality of data. All three are greatly improved
when we onboard operators using biometrics.”
– Sasikumar Ganesan, Head of Engineering
The first and most significant step in any foundational identity system is the process of registration – recording an individual's demographic details, biometrics, and ID proofing documents to facilitate the issuance and management of a verifiable credential. Ensuring quality and accuracy at this stage is crucial, as data faults undermine the integrity of the entire ID programme, and are much harder to rectify at later stages.
Operators are individuals stationed at registration centres to register new individuals in the system by capturing biometric data, demographic information, and other necessary details. Following the country’s chosen workflow, operators personally ensure the accurate and efficient entry of data into the system. These personnel are essential in resolving registration and data quality concerns, particularly in unique individual cases.
While millions of residents provide their personally-identifiable details as part of the registration process, the digital infrastructure must ensure that such data is collected securely and verified. Potential fraud or errors can occur through multiple scenarios, including:
At MOSIP, we believe that technology can empower communities to own and control their digital infrastructure, with global standards of privacy and security built into the system’s design. In line with these principles, MOSIP’s Registration Client enables Operator Onboarding with Biometrics to address the associated challenges with a human touch.
“Operator onboarding” involves registering trusted and trained operators within the ID system, contingent upon their prior registration and possession of a valid Unique Identification Number (UIN). Administrators can then designate staff as either operators or supervisors, generating their respective login credentials. Upon initial login, the personnel are prompted to provide their biometrics and finalise the onboarding process.
This process ensures that the Registration Client can only be accessed and edited by people registered as operators. By verifying that the one entering data into the ID system is a trained individual, MOSIP-based systems allow safeguarding the system against fraudulent or flawed data. Conducting this verification through biometrics guarantees the operator’s physical presence at the point of registration, adding a layer of security and trust.
In MOSIP-based systems, the Registration Client is a software application used to register individuals, online or offline. The client allows operators to enter and validate data, perform biometric captures, and generate registration packets that are sent to the server (Registration Processor) for further processing.
There are several instances in the process of ID registration that require the presence of a trained individual; from judging the quality of documents submitted by the resident as ID proof and assessing the threshold of quality for biometric collection, to intercepting spelling errors or mistaken instructions.
The MOSIP team’s learnings from previous country implementations also inform the development of such technologies, accommodating common behaviours within the system. In cases where the operator may demonstrate or prepare the biometric device for usage by residents who are unfamiliar with the technology, the MOSIP Registration Client automatically detects and exempts the operator’s biometrics from being recorded, preventing faulty registration.
It is imperative that such checks happen at the time of registration, in the resident’s presence – allowing immediate corrections to faulty data. Additionally, onboarding operators with biometrics provides accountability, ensuring that any fraudulent activity can be traced back to the personnel involved in the registration.
