App Launched to Help Consumers Fight Illicit Trade

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 19 November 2013 – A new smartphone application, Should I Buy It?, has been launched to tackle terrorist groups, organized crime networks and traders that benefit from the sale of illicit goods.
The app is an initiative of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade & Organized Crime and allows consumers to detect and verify the authenticity of goods before purchase. Crowdsourcing techniques are used to build consumer reports on the authenticity, price and quality of goods as well as accurate geolocation and vendor information.
Illicit trade is a major contributor to discrepancies in wealth between the developing and developed world, fuels conflicts and destabilizes 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 alike.
“By raising awareness of the problem of counterfeiting and illicit trade, this app shows how every person can make a difference,” said Martina Gmür, Senior Director, Head of the Network of Global Agenda Councils, World Economic Forum.
“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 organized crime,” said Adam Blackwell, Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States and a Chairman of the Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade & Organized Crime.
“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,” said Carlos Moreira, Chief Executive of WISeKey and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade & Organized Crime.
The first release of the application is available via the iTunes app store, and the public can access reports via a Facebook page.
The Co-Chairs of the Summit on the Global Agenda 2013 are Nasser Ahmed AlSowaidi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), United Arab Emirates, and Sultan Saeed Nasser Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates.
World Economic Forum announcement:
http://www.weforum.org/news/app-launched-help-consumers-fight-illicit-trade