Finacus Solutions & pi-labs launch deepfake-proof eKYC solution in India

By Gloria Mathias

Finacus Solutions, a banking technology company, and pi-labs.ai, an AI-based deep fake detection startup, have announced a collaboration, marking an advancement in the e-KYC landscape.

This partnership introduces a deepfake-proof eKYC solution designed to fortify the identity verification process against the rising threat of deepfake fraud in the financial sector.

In response, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated live video for KYC procedures, supplemented by enhanced security measures such as personalised, dynamic, and randomised questionnaires. However, the emergence of deepfake videos in Video KYC represents a formidable challenge, particularly in the context of credit and loan applications. This partnership signifies a pivotal moment in the application of AI within the eKYC process, showcasing the first use of AI to detect deep fakes in this domain.

The integration of pi-labs.ai’s AI tools will complement the existing manual authentication process, creating a sophisticated hybrid system that merges human expertise with AI-driven insights to ensure the highest level of security.

Last year, nearly 63 billion eKYC transactions were conducted globally, resulting in a substantial reduction in customer onboarding costs. The financial sector, therefore, cannot afford to revert to traditional KYC processes. India’s recent history underscores this, with the Supreme Court’s temporary ban on eKYC, which was later lifted following amendments to the RBI’s Master Direction on KYC norms.

Rahul Ayyappan, Co-Founder and CTO of Finacus Solutions said, “The integration of Aadhar-based eKYC has drastically reduced KYC costs, providing a significant boost to the FinTech sector. The financial industry has a vested interest in maintaining the integrity of the eKYC process to ensure these cost benefits are sustained. However, the threat posed by deep fakes is real; persistent fraud using generative AI could force banks and regulators to revert to in-person KYC, substantially increasing costs. The AI-based detection capabilities provided by pi-labs.ai will offer our banking clients enhanced security and peace of mind.”

Ankush Tiwari, Founder and CEO of pi-labs.ai, added, “Our deepfake detection technology is poised to revolutionize the eKYC process by alerting both human reviewers and automated systems when AI-generated content is detected. This proactive approach will safeguard the credibility of the eKYC process at a time when AI poses a significant threat. The collaboration with Finacus Solutions will greatly enhance the reliability and security of eKYC, ensuring that the financial sector remains resilient against emerging challenges.”