Identity & Security ~

A discussion highlighting pain points and use cases in the creation of Identity Security

June 7, 2024 @ 1400 UTC via Zoom

Pain Points

  • Users lose autonomy over their identities in centralized systems.

  • Credentials stored in one wallet often can't be recognized by another.

  • Lack of standardization has hindered the adoption and compatibility of digital identity solutions.

  • Interoperability issues between different wallets and platforms complicate the use of digital credentials.

  • Users struggle to securely manage their own data and face challenges in recovering lost credentials.

Use Cases

  • Decentralized recovery mechanisms for lost credentials, such as sharding seeds across trusted contacts.

  • Self custody of data and reductions in broad data collection minimizes security risk and complies with GDPR.

  • Identity solutions to track participation and contributions in decentralized governance systems.

  • Users can choose which parts of their credentials to share with different entities.

  • Universities issuing degrees and certificates digitally that can be stored and verified by individuals.

Qualitative Elements:

  • The discussion highlighted the philosophical and practical aspects of digital identity.

  • Emphasis on the user's right to control their data and the need for systems that respect this right.

  • Participants discussed the balance between decentralization and practicality, highlighting existing solutions and the potential for broader implementation.

Quantitative Elements:

  • The W3C standardization process for DIDs and verifiable credentials took from 2016 to 2022 to complete.

  • The US government's plan to issue digital passports using DIDs by 2025.

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