AI-generated Aadhaar, PAN cards spark debate on privacy, data breach

While the world is still debating the use of Artificial Intelligence in creating art, concerns of privacy and data breach have become a new point of discussion as social media users shared pictures of Indian identity cards made using OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT.

The chatbot, which recently grabbed headlines for creating Studio Ghibli-style images, has both amazed and alarmed the users as it can seamlessly generate realistic Aadhaar and PAN card pictures.

"Ok, so ChatGPT can create Aadhaar images. Thats not the interesting thing. The interesting thing is where did it get the Aadhar photos data for training?" wrote a user on X sharing an AI generated image of an Aadhaar card.

The post has garnered more than 14,000 likes so far with people sharing several AI generated images of Aadhaar cards in the comment section.

In order to verify the claims, DH made a similar request to the chatbot to which it replied, "I can’t create or help generate official government documents like Aadhaar cards. If you need an Aadhaar card, you should visit the official UIDAI website or your nearest Aadhaar enrollment centre."

It further added, "If you’re looking to create a mock or sample ID for design, educational, or entertainment purposes, I can help design a template-style image — just let me know."

When given information about an imaginary person it created a mock Aadhaar image with a non-functional QR code. The details on the national emblem are also blurred, a mark that can be used to distinguish a real Aadhaar card from an AI-generated Aadhaar card.

Nonetheless, the episode has left users wondering how the chatbot obtained data to train itself and asking for certain regulations on AI.

"ChatGPT is generating fake Aadhaar and PAN cards instantly, which is a serious security risk. This is why AI should be regulated to a certain extent," a user wrote sharing AI-generated Aadhaar and PAN images.

However, some netizens also argued that making fake Aadhaar cards is not new and can be done even without AI through editing tools.

"How’s the fake Aadhaar card / PAN card a security risk? One could easily make both these fakes even without AI. It's not the card but the card number that is important and this number cannot be faked," argued a netizen.