At last week’s Tech London Advocates Women in Tech event: Advancing Digital Trust, industry leaders gathered to explore the pressing topic of advancing digital trust. Discussions centred around innovation, governance, and the critical role technology plays in shaping our digital future.
Among the prominent panellists was Priya Guliani, who shared her visionary insights on decentralised identity, digital inclusion, and blockchain technology. Her contributions went beyond technical expertise—she painted a picture of a future where individuals have full control over their own identities, privacy is preserved by design, and trust is no longer dependent on centralised intermediaries.
Here, we explore the key themes Priya discussed during the panel.
Who is Priya Guliani?
Priya Guliani is the CEO of EarthID, a multi-award-winning cybersecurity platform specialising in decentralised identity and fraud prevention. Passionate about fostering equitable access to technology and resources, Priya envisions a world driven by social, financial, and digital inclusion.
She has received multiple awards for innovation and leadership and has been featured in the Innovate Finance FinTech Powerlist for three consecutive years. This year, she was also recognised in the prestigious Standout 45. Her recent accolades include:
- ‘Blockchain for Good’ by Entrepreneur Media
- Women in Innovation Award by the UK’s Innovation Agency
- Most Admired Entrepreneurs 2024 by Silicon Republic
- Top 100 Women Innovators
- Top 100 Asians in Tech
Her expertise in decentralised identity and privacy-preserving technologies made her a standout voice in this panel discussion.
Decentralised Identity: A New Era of Digital Trust
During the discussion, Priya highlighted the significance of decentralised identity, emphasising that our personal data has historically been fragmented and vulnerable across numerous platforms. Her ethos is clear:
“My identity, my data. I should be able to manage and choose what information I share, for how long, and revoke access whenever I choose.”
She explained that decentralised identity offers a solution to the risks associated with centralised data storage, advocating for a user-centric approach. Blockchain plays a key role here, adding a trust layer that ensures identity credentials are verifiable, tamper-evident, and provide an auditable trail.
Beyond personal identity, Priya discussed how decentralised identity can transform public services, financial transactions, and enterprise security. She envisions a future where digital interactions are seamless, secure, and privacy-first, eliminating the need for repeated identity verifications across platforms.
“Decentralised identity isn’t just about security—it’s about creating a frictionless digital experience. Imagine being able to apply for a mortgage, sign up for government services, or even prove your professional credentials without having to verify the same documents over and over again.”
Privacy-Preserving Verification: The Future of Digital Safety
Priya also emphasised the importance of privacy-preserving verification methods, such as zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). These cryptographic techniques allow users to prove a fact (such as their age or citizenship) without revealing any additional data.
“We need to move towards privacy-first approaches where verification doesn’t mean overexposure. Just because someone needs to prove they are over 18 doesn’t mean they should have to share their full ID.”
She highlighted how privacy-enhancing technologies align with regulatory efforts to reduce fraud while maintaining compliance, particularly in industries like finance, healthcare, and online safety. And that, for businesses, adopting privacy-first verification is not just about compliance. It’s a competitive advantage. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their digital rights, and they will gravitate towards services that respect their privacy.
AI, Digital Identity, and Security
Priya addressed the growing role of AI in digital identity and fraud prevention, highlighting both its potential and risks. She discussed how AI-powered authentication, when combined with blockchain-based identity systems, can significantly reduce risks related to fraud and impersonation.
However, she also acknowledged AI’s darker side: deep fake technology, identity fraud, and algorithmic bias.
“AI can be an incredible tool for safety, but it can also be weaponised.”
She advocated for stronger AI auditing mechanisms, ensuring that identity verification models are transparent, unbiased, and accountable. For Priya (and with agreement from many others in the room and her fellow panellists) the future of identity is not just about technology, it’s about trust. We need to ensure that AI-driven identity systems are built with integrity, so they don’t replicate the biases of traditional verification models.
A Vision for the Future
As the panel discussion drew to a close, Priya shared her vision for a world where decentralised identity is the default standard.
“I believe decentralised identity will evolve into a truly user-centric, portable identity system, giving individuals control over their data while ensuring reusability and interoperability across industries.”
She outlined three key steps to achieving this future:
- Regulatory collaboration – Ensuring governments and industry leaders work together to create legal frameworks that support decentralised identity.
- Widespread adoption of privacy-first verification – Encouraging businesses to embrace privacy-preserving technologies like ZKPs.
- User empowerment and education – Raising awareness about rights and risks associated with digital identity, and how individuals can take control of their personal data.
Priya’s mission is to drive the adoption of decentralised identity and privacy-preserving verification solutions, fostering digital, financial, and social inclusion. Through innovation, collaboration, and advocacy, she aims to reshape digital trust by ensuring secure, user-centric, and compliant identity ecosystems for individuals and organisations alike.
Final Thoughts
Priya’s contributions at the Women in Tech: Advancing Digital Trust event showcased her commitment to redefining identity, privacy, and digital inclusion through her work at EarthID. Her insights emphasised the urgent need for new models of trust, decentralisation, and user control in the digital landscape.
To stay up to date on Priya’s pioneering work and join the conversation, follow her on LinkedIn. and visit https://www.myearth.id
- Photos from TLA Women In Tech Event: Advancing Digital Trust by Jo Tolner Photography
- Find out more about Tech London Advocates: Women in Tech
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