Following public criticism about the company’s affiliation, the Maldives government voided the agreement, citing its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause. Critics argued that contracting an Israeli-owned company contradicted the Maldives' pro-Palestine stance.
SunOnline International
The Maldives government has recently taken a firm step to reinforce its solidarity with Palestine by replacing SumSub, the former vendor for its national digital identity service, eFaas. The National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) announced the transition to a new vendor, Regular Forensics, a Latvian company with extensive expertise in digital services.
SumSub, a UK-registered company with Israeli ownership, was previously contracted to provide face verification services for eFaas. Following public criticism about the company’s affiliation, the Maldives government voided the agreement, citing its commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause. Critics argued that contracting an Israeli-owned company contradicted the Maldives' pro-Palestine stance.
At the time of the controversy, NCIT clarified that SumSub had been selected based on its compliance with UK laws and assured that the company only had access to photographs used for facial recognition. However, the partnership’s optics led to widespread calls for an alternative vendor.
NCIT’s statement confirmed that the eFaas system is now powered by Regular Forensics, a trusted company based in Latvia with over 30 years of experience in digital technologies. The government emphasized that the new partnership prioritizes the privacy and security of Maldivian citizens. Unlike the previous arrangement, all facial recognition processes will now be conducted within NCIT without involving foreign entities in managing sensitive personal data.
These steps underscore the Maldives' commitment to standing firmly against Israel's policies and supporting Palestine, aligning its actions with public sentiment. The transition to a new eFaas vendor represents a significant move to ensure consistency in this stance, reinforcing trust among Maldivians in their government's policies and practices.
