Study: 627 million people are unjustly excluded from digital services globally

Did you know that 627 million people - with a spending power of US$1.75 trillion dollars - around the world are unjustly exiled from digital services and often red-flagged due to bias stereotyping based for reasons such as issues with identification documents, lack of digital literacy, physical appearance changes and country of origin?

This profiling can lead to exclusion from services that most people take for granted.

New AI-driven fraud threats are causing businesses to become increasingly risk-averse, leaving everyday necessities—such as financial services, education, healthcare, and employment platforms—out of reach. Once locked out, regaining access becomes nearly impossible without significant changes from businesses.

This was according to research by global online verification platform, Sumsub which also released a whitepaper in collaboration with The Catalyst Group that highlights that digital exclusion is not only a societal injustice but also a significant economic oversight, as the lack of accessibility restricts economic participation.

To address this, Sumsub has launched ‘Greenflag’, a global awareness campaign to urge businesses to rethink their verification processes by adopting fairer, more inclusive solutions. Sumsub’s ‘Greenflag’ project aims to unveil the massive issue of digital exclusion—affecting over 627 million people—and attract businesses to help solve it.

Sumsub’s people-centred and inclusive verification products or features can address some of the reasons why people are unfairly flagged. However, other causes of exclusion require more than just technology. Sumsub envisions a collaborative approach where businesses, governments, and verification providers recognise the scale of this issue and work together to develop comprehensive solutions, ensuring a fairer digital economy for all.

‘Greenflag’ represents a largely untapped market with a collective spending power of a staggering US$1.75 trillion dollars. For businesses, embracing inclusivity through updated verification processes unlocks vast opportunities. Those ready to rethink exclusionary practices stand to benefit from engaging this economically powerful population.

Created by Sumsub and independent creative agency Cloudfactory, ‘Greenflag’ is a global campaign launching the first 'nation' for a people-friendly digital world, where unfairly red-flagged digital exiles can have their chance to rejoin the digital economy.

It launches in celebration of ‘World Inclusion Day’ with an online film running across digital channels directing businesses to its website and uses imagery depicting a floating server, seemingly lost at sea to powerfully illustrate the isolation and disconnect felt by the 627 million individuals excluded from essential digital services.

It is also supported by influencer activity.

“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," said Julia Kim, chief marketing officer of Sumsub.

"Through the ‘Greenflag’ campaign, we’re shedding light on this hidden issue and challenging businesses to rethink how they approach verification. 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,” added Kim. 

"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," said César García, Creative Director at Cloudfactory.

"As an agency rooted in Creative Activism, we are dedicated to driving action. 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,” García added.

‘Greenflag’ will run globally including the US, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, and UAE.

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