The Maldives government has decided to replace Sum and Substance Private Limited (SumSub) with Regular Forensics as the vendor for facial recognition services in the eFaas digital identity portal. The change was announced by the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) in response to public criticism of the previous contractor’s Israeli origins and concerns over data privacy.
eFaas, the National Digital Identity platform of the Maldives, serves as a comprehensive online portal for government offices and digital services. It is designed to streamline citizens’ access to various government services through a single, secure interface. One of its key features is the integration of facial recognition technology for identity verification, which enhances security and prevents fraudulent activities.
The platform allows users to access a wide range of government digital services conveniently, reducing the need for in-person visits to government offices. eFaas prioritizes data security and privacy, with all personal information, including photographs used for facial recognition, managed within the government’s own infrastructure.
SumSub, a UK-registered company with Israeli ownership, had faced significant public backlash in the Maldives due to its ties to Israel. The criticism was exacerbated by the Maldivian government’s strong advocacy for Palestinian rights and its condemnation of Israeli actions in the conflict stemming from the events of October 7, 2023. Although the NCIT had previously highlighted SumSub’s adherence to UK laws, public sentiment and concerns over data security ultimately led to the termination of the agreement.
Notably, SumSub has been recognized for its efforts in identity verification, having been the first to receive accreditation under the United Kingdom’s Global Digital Identity Certification, which underscores its commitment to secure digital identity management.
The new vendor, Regular Forensics, is a Latvian company with 30 years of experience in digital services and a strong reputation for trustworthiness. According to NCIT, Regular Forensics has already implemented its facial recognition application within the eFaas framework. A key assurance provided by the NCIT is that all operations involving personal data will now be conducted entirely within their infrastructure, eliminating the involvement of any foreign parties in handling sensitive citizen information.
Currently, the facial recognition feature is available only via web browsers on the eFaas portal. This limited rollout suggests a cautious approach to ensure the technology’s effectiveness and public acceptance before broader implementation.
Sources: The Edition, Avas Online
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December 2, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
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