Identity verification company Onfido has partnered with Swedish micromobility company Voi Technology to verify the identity and age of e-scooter riders in Voi trial areas across the UK.
In e-scooter pilot schemes in the West Midlands, Cambridge, Northampton, Liverpool, Bath and Bristol, riders are legally required to hold a valid driving licence. The new partnership will implement digital identity verification to reduce the risk of impersonation amongst its riders.
The document verification check uses Onfido’s AI-powered technology to complete authentication, enabling riders to sign-up in minutes by taking a photo of their driving licence.
Onfido said it is working with Voi to create additional verification methods to ensure the person presenting the identity is the legitimate owner of the driving license and is physically present.
Kevin Trilli, chief product officer, Onfido said: “The ability for e-scooter riders to securely verify their identities is not only important for providing access to the service, but in guaranteeing the future of e-scooters in Britain’s micromobility sector by preventing the service from being exploited and misused by those that are not eligible during these important trials.”
According to Voi, its partnership with Onfidio prevents ineligible users from gaining access to its service and is one of its safety measurements implemented to go beyond the UK government’s requirements.
The e-scooters also feature a number plate to further identify riders to address issues around misuse. Geofencing technology is another safety measure, which limits the vehicle’s speed to 5mph in pedestrianised areas.
Furthermore, an online safety school has been launched to teach riders how to the ride responsibly.
Fredrik Hjelm, co-founder and CEO of Voi Technology, said: “Safety is paramount to everything we do at Voi, and one aspect of this is the correct identification of riders. Our strategic partnership with Onfido is critical to ensure that people are riding Voi scooters appropriately.
“We’re looking forward to taking this fast and simple process one step further to guarantee the legitimate owner is the one making a journey.”
