Amba Karsondas Profile Picture

Amba Karsondas

Amba is responsible for all things Social Purpose at Yoti, ensuring that Yoti effectively balances profit with purpose and continually upholds its ethical and moral commitments.

An image of a woman who is looking at her driving licence. The accompanying text next to the image reads “Tobacco and Vapes Bill - United Kingdom”.

Understanding age assurance in the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill

In a significant move towards tightening regulations on tobacco and vaping products, the UK has introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Originally introduced by the previous Conservative government, the Bill has now been reintroduced by the new Labour government, signalling bipartisan support. The Bill aims to create a “smoke-free generation” by gradually raising the age of sale for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products every year until they are completely phased out across the UK.   What is the main aim of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? The Tobacco and Vapes Bill seeks to tighten the regulatory framework around tobacco,

7 min read

Thoughts from our CEO

In this blog series, our CEO Robin Tombs will be sharing his experience, whilst focusing on major themes, news and issues in the world of identity verification and age assurance. This month, Robin talks about the UK’s plan to introduce government-issued digital IDs, his predictions for the UK’s digital ID market, tackling the problem of deepfake porn and online age verification for knife sales.   Initial thoughts about the UK’s rollout of government-issued digital IDs Game-changing news from the UK Government clearly shows that it’s very serious about a digital Britain and reusable digital ID. The positive ramifications for

8 min read
An image of a Yoti showable card. The card is data minimised, displaying only the user's name, image and an "over 18" age credential.

Physical IDs vs. Digital IDs: What are the key differences?

Key differences between physical IDs and digital IDs include: Format of the ID Ability to protect personal data (through minimising the data shared) When the ID can be used Differing use cases Who issues the ID Security features and vulnerabilities Regulatory and legal acceptance     Last year, multiple countries made big strides towards accepting digital IDs. Recognising that we live in an increasingly online world, and that fewer people are carrying wallets, more businesses, governments and organisations are choosing to accept digital IDs as a form of identification. Digital IDs and physical IDs serve the same fundamental

9 min read
An image of a woman wearing a Santa hat and smiling at her phone.

Stop identity thieves from stealing your Christmas

The festive period is a time for giving, celebrating and spending quality time with loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also prime season for fraudsters looking to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. Instances of identity fraud skyrocket around Christmas, with someone in the UK scammed every 12 seconds. To help you stay one step ahead, here’s some practical steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft.   Keep your devices secure In the UK, more than 4 in 5 of us do our shopping online. But as more of us shop from the comfort of our sofas, we still

8 min read
An image of Dorothy Gordon, who is smiling at the camera. The accompanying text says "Meet the Guardians: Dorothy Gordon".

Meet the Guardians: Dorothy Gordon

At Yoti, our Guardian Council is an independent board of advisors, helping us to navigate the complex world of identity. We spoke with our newest Guardian, Dorothy Gordon, to find out what drew her to our Guardian Council.   1) Why did you decide to join Yoti’s Guardian Council? I found the concept of a Guardian Council really engaging. It’s not often that companies attempt such a thing – inviting people from outside the company to help ensure they’re acting in a trustworthy and transparent way. There are many social enterprises out there that say that they’re doing something

7 min read
Image of a young man looking down at his phone. Surrounding him are three illustrations: a shield representing security, a building representing financial services and a smartphone representing how a Digital ID app can be used for identity verification.

How Digital IDs are streamlining everyday tasks for millions

We’ve recently just hit a huge milestone: our Digital ID apps have had 14 million global downloads. Businesses and individuals are increasingly using Digital IDs. In fact, experts have predicted that the number of digital identity verification checks will surpass 70 billion by the end of 2024. This blog explores how our Digital IDs are making people’s lives easier and more secure.   But first, what is Digital ID? Instead of using a physical document, such as a passport or driving licence, a Digital ID is a way for people to prove who they are on their phone. Creating

10 min read