Global online verification platform Sumsub has found that as many as 627 million people worldwide are unjustly excluded from digital services due to bias stereotyping.
Possessing a spending power of £1.3 trillion, this group would form the world’s third largest nation in terms of population and is often red-flagged due to issues with identification documents, lack of digital literacy, physical appearance changes and country of origin.
Developed with creative agency Cloudfactory, the work utilises the dramatic imagery of a floating server lost at sea in an attempt to powerfully illustrate the isolation and disconnect felt by excluded individuals.
Due to AI-driven fraud making businesses increasingly risk-averse, everyday necessities such as financial services, education, healthcare, and employment platforms are increasingly inaccessible.
“At Sumsub, we believe that access to digital services is a right, not a privilege. The exclusion of over 627 million people from essential services is a global crisis that demands urgent attention,” Sumsub CMO, Julia Kim said.
“Through the ‘Greenflag’ campaign, we’re shedding light on this hidden issue and challenging businesses to rethink how they approach verification.
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She continued: “By implementing more inclusive solutions, we can empower people and unlock enormous economic potential, while ensuring that digital services are accessible to all. It’s time for the industry to come together and take action for creating a fairer digital economy.”
Coinciding with World Inclusion Day, the platform’s ‘Greenflag’ campaign accompanies a new white paper that showcases how digital exclusion is not only a societal injustice, but also a significant economic oversight.
Amplified by a 60-second spot, the creative will go live across a range of key international markets including the UK, US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, and the UAE.
Cloudfactory creative director, César Garcia added: “Our goal was to create a tangible representation of a very real problem that has remained invisible for too long. The concept of the floating server, seemingly lost at sea, powerfully illustrates the isolation and disconnect felt by the 627 million individuals excluded from essential digital services.
“Many companies are swayed to tighten security due to new AI driven fraud, meaning businesses become too risk-averse when accepting new customers. We envision ‘Greenflag’ as a genuine pathway to change, offering actionable solutions businesses can adopt immediately. We aim to show the value in this marginalised group, shifting the perception of risk to a nation that’s now open for business.”
