Innovation, Financial Inclusion & eKYC Compliance
As the world moves towards broader adoption of biometric authentication and with that stricter regulatory requirements, I sat down with Imad Malhas, our Founder and a respected voice in KYC compliance, digital identity, and financial inclusion.
Imad shared his thoughts on how our technology is transforming different industries - from humanitarian aid to banking, and what’s next for biometric-driven financial inclusion.
— Eva Mowbray, Director of Marketing
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Imad, we have been at the forefront of biometric innovation for over two decades. What sets your approach apart from other biometric suppliers in our industry?
"Our foundation has always been rooted in precision, security, and scalability. We utilise the human iris only, as the most accurate identifier, on a one-to-many basis. And that's enabled us to differentiate ourselves.
We’ve developed an entire ecosystem based on this. Our UK facility has produced our cameras and our team in Jordan adds the software and backend processing.
It means that we are able to deploy the complete system in the field without any third-parties. And this was key for many of our clients who wanted to work with one vendor that can manage everything.”
Security and privacy have been major concerns with the use biometrics. How does you address that?
"We’ve built privacy-by-design principles into our entire system from the very beginning. That’s key. Strong security measures and rules have to be at the forefront of any biometrics deployment.
We don't store or manage biometric images but instead we convert them into encrypted mathematical templates, which are under the ownership of our customers at all times.
Of course KYC compliance is a growing regulatory requirement in banking and any financial services. Integrating with iris-based systems means that financial institutions can meet compliance requirements with absolute certainty - no false positives and no identity theft."
The humanitarian sector is currently going through uncertainty over funding. Can the digital transformation that this sector has gone through help?
"The humanitarian sector has really embraced digital solutions, with the goal to improve transparency and efficiency of how CVA is distributed.
By replacing outdated, paper-based systems with biometric verification, we’ve enabled our aid partners to distribute assistance with unprecedented accuracy and with that, unprecedented accountability. This will be crucial as we navigate through the current situation because it has never been more important to make sure that crucial financial assistance and resources reach the right people, it’s a way of stretching funding further and helping more people in need.”
Bearing this in mind, how have we made sure that our solutions have the versatility that we need as a business to work in different industries?
"The key is the ability to integrate seamlessly into already existing infrastructures. Whether we’re working with the UN to enable them to deliver cash assistance, or with banks for KYC compliance, or with the governments who need to digitise their services for citizens, we've had to develop a system that’s interoperable, where we effectively add a fraud-proof verification layer.
That also means we have to sometimes work with iris records obtained by other providers, we simply have to adapt and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new product development, now that biometrics technology is being added to many new settings.”
Specifically then, how do we support governments in their digital transformation initiatives?
"Many governments are prioritizing digital identity frameworks to enhance security, reduce fraud, and improve the overall experience as well as deliver services faster. Our system offers a non-replicable identity verification system that can actually be applied in any eGovernment services. Whether that’s a traditional national ID scheme or protecting borders, we help governments implement secure and efficient digital services.
Our work with MODEE in Jordan is a good example, where we’ve integrated into Jordan’s national digital ID platform, SANAD, allowing Jordanians in Jordan and abroad to activate their accounts through iris authentication.
I am humbled by having this opportunity for us to align and support Jordan’s broader digital transformation agenda, ensuring that government transactions, like social benefits for instance, are secure, efficient, and accessible.”
What’s next for IrisGuard Imad? Any new projects that you are particularly excited about?
"We always evolve as we come up against new challenges and opportunities. We’re really expanding our footprint in government to citizen services as many government agencies around the world look to transition to fully digital platforms.
With the rise of generative AI and the challenges that it brings, the need for a secure and fraud resistant solutions has never been greater and I am excited to see our technology being used as a force for good.”
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