A market leader in digital security underlines the role of the economy in bridging the digital divide

“We sincerely support the Global Digital Solidarity Fund: as an international market player, we take social responsibility to heart.” It is in these terms that Carlos Moreira, Chairman of WISeKey, welcomed the cooperation agreement signed with the DSF. Specialised in digital identification technology, the Swiss company has adopted the “one percent digital solidarity contribution”, which enables the DSF to support projects in countries lacking Internet access.

WISeKey is convinced that companies must become involved in fighting the digital divide: “all populations must be able to access the same development opportunities and digital identification technology is an indispensable tool to this end”, comments Alejandro Linch, WISeKey Director in charge of the DSF project. “To cooperate means to offer technology to disadvantaged countries, thus promoting their development process. In this manner, we participate in the opening of new markets, which represents a long-term investment. One must give in order to receive.”

WISeKey also commits to cooperate with the DSF in the field of digital identification. “In some developing countries, no secure identification system exists at the national level. Thanks to identification technology, combined with fingerprint biometric recognition, we can offer each citizen their own ID. This has interesting applications in many areas. In the case of an immunisation campaign, for instance, doctors will be able to easily follow the medical evolution of a patient”, explains Alejandro Linch.

Carlos Moreira views WISeKey’s support to the DSF as the private sector assuming its social responsibility. “In the years to come, the digital divide will become a digital identity divide. Our mission is to ensure that such a divide does not worsen the situation of already disadvantaged world regions. We support the Global Digital Solidarity Fund and the one percent digital solidarity principle, as this is one of the most important actions undertaken to reduce the digital divide in the developing world.”

For more information WISeKey : www.wisekey.com