Advanced Participant Verification to Strengthen Data Quality

Iselin, NJ – April 2026 – Sago has introduced a new participant verification process designed to strengthen data quality and protect the integrity of research outcomes. Built into its panel onboarding experience, the enhanced system uses government-issued ID verification combined with biometric selfie matching to confirm participant identity in real time.

As fraudulent activity becomes more sophisticated, traditional verification methods are no longer enough to ensure participant authenticity. Sago’s new approach leverages Persona’s advanced technology, a secure identity verification platform designed to confirm real people online while protecting personal data, to validate both the legitimacy of an ID and that it matches the individual submitting it. This prevents duplicate accounts, impersonation, and the use of falsified credentials.

“Trust and data integrity are non‑negotiable at Sago. This enhanced verification process reflects our unwavering commitment to quality and ensures our clients’ insights are built on a foundation of authentic, verified participants.” – Melanie Courtright, Chief Strategy Officer

The verification process is embedded seamlessly into the panel join flow. Participants are prompted to upload a government-issued ID and complete a short selfie verification. Behind the scenes, multiple checks are performed instantly, including ID authenticity, image quality, facial matching, and selfie liveness. Participants who do not meet verification standards are flagged for additional review or rejected in real time.

By implementing verification at the onboarding stage, Sago ensures that all new panelists meet a higher standard of authenticity from the start. This creates a more reliable respondent pool and helps clients feel confident that their insights are based on real, qualified participants.

The result is a stronger foundation for research where speed, scale, and data quality can coexist without compromise.

About Sago

Sago is a leading global research partner that connects human answers to business questions. Combining our legacy of impact, global reach, and innovative spirit, we enable our clients to solve business problems through extensive audience access and an adaptive range of qualitative, quantitative, and consultative solutions. We help our clients understand what their customers want and demand — empowering them to make decisions with confidence.