A new smartphone application, Should I Buy It?, has been launched to tackle terrorist groups, organised crime and traders that sell illicit goods. You can download the app at: http://www.shouldibuyit.net/
The app is an initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade and Organized Crime . With it, consumers can verify the authenticity of goods before purchase. Crowdsourcing techniques are used to build consumer reports on authenticity, price and quality of goods besides geolocation and vendor information.
Illicit trade is as the WEF says a major contributor to discrepancies in wealth between the developing and developed world; it fuels conflicts and destabilises fragile states. It also hinders economic development, institution-building, human rights and the rule of law, and supports corrupt practices among government officials and private citizens.
Martina Gmür, Senior Director, Head of the Network of Global Agenda Councils, World Economic Forum, said: “By raising awareness of the problem of counterfeiting and illicit trade, this app shows how every person can make a difference.
And Adam Blackwell, Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States and a Chairman of the Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade & Organized Crime, said: “This app brings the problem closer to our daily lives. Each of us, as responsible customers, can help combat the profits of illicit trade and organised crime.”
Carlos Moreira, Chief Executive of WISeKey and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade and Organized Crime, said: “Should I Buy It? supports the Council’s endeavour to develop a digital identity framework in which individuals, organizations, services and devices can trust each other and authenticate their digital identities to address certain urgent issues related to cyber security in general, and illicit trade in particular, and WISeKey is proud to be part of this development.”
The first release of the application is available via the iTunes app store, and the public can access reports via a Facebook page.
