An introduction to Self-Sovereign Identity

Summary

This video explores the concept of self-sovereign identity (SSI), critiquing the current fragmented digital identity systems and advocating for a future where individuals have full control over their personal data. The script explains the trust triangle model involving issuers, holders, and verifiers, and how decentralized identifiers (DIDs) enable secure and flexible identity verification without revealing unnecessary personal information. Real-world applications, such as age verification for purchasing alcohol and decentralized scooter rental systems, illustrate the practicality of SSI. The video concludes by highlighting ongoing projects like Hyperledger Aries and Sovrin, which are paving the way for a universal identity layer that empowers users.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Identity is a multifaceted concept that encompasses qualities, beliefs, and personality traits, as well as cultural, historical, and religious aspects.
• 🔒 The current digital identity systems are fragmented and controlled by various organizations, leading to a lack of user control and potential security issues like data breaches.
• 🆓 Self-sovereign identity (SSI) is a new framework that emphasizes individual ownership and control over one's digital and analog identities.
• 🔑 The Trust Triangle is a key concept in SSI, involving the holder, issuer, and verifier of credentials, establishing a trusted relationship for identity verification.
• 📜 Attributes in SSI are elements that qualify a person, which can be shared as verified credentials without revealing personal information.
• 't🔗 Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) are unique identifiers that do not require centralized registration authority and are controlled by the identity holder.
• 🚫 SSI avoids storing sensitive identity data on blockchains, instead using them for decentralized identifiers and signatures.
• 🗃 Decentralized data storage is used to keep identity data secure and under the control of the identity holder, separate from blockchain technology.
• 🔒 Zero-knowledge proofs allow individuals to verify their attributes (e.g., age) without revealing sensitive personal information.
• 🛴 Real-world applications of SSI include decentralized systems for services like scooter rentals, enhancing user control and privacy.
• 🌐 The SSI community is working towards a universal identity layer for the web that promotes technical interoperability and user-centric identity management.
• 🔍 The script is part of a series introducing SSI, highlighting the need for further exploration, standardization, and integration to realize its full potential.

Q & A

What is the concept of identity according to psychology?

In psychology, identity includes qualities, beliefs, and personality traits that define a person and distinguish them from others.

How does sociology define identity differently from psychology?

Sociology defines identity to include cultural, historical, and religious aspects, reflecting the social context in which a person exists.

What is the current state of online identity management?

Online identity management is fragmented, with users having multiple personas across different platforms, controlled by various organizations, leading to a lack of user control and issues like data breaches.

What is the main issue with proprietary, centralized identity systems like 'Sign in with Google'?

Proprietary, centralized identity systems lock users into specific ecosystems, causing a lack of control for the user and hindering interoperability.

What is the concept of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI)?

Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) is the concept where individuals or organizations have full ownership and control over their digital and analog identities and personal data.

What is the Trust Triangle in the context of SSI?

The Trust Triangle in SSI involves three stakeholders: the holder of a credential, the issuer of identity information, and the verifier who requests the information, establishing a trusted relationship for identity verification.

What is a decentralized identifier (DID) and why is it not stored on a blockchain?

A decentralized identifier (DID) is a globally unique identifier that is fully under the control of the holder, independent of any centralized authority. It is not stored on a blockchain to avoid the limitations of blockchain technology and to ensure flexibility and privacy.

Why is the blockchain not suitable for storing identity data?

The blockchain is not suitable for storing identity data due to its immutable nature and potential privacy concerns. Instead, it is used to store decentralized identifiers and signatures, while the actual identity data is stored on decentralized data storage.

What is a 'zero-knowledge proof' and how is it used in SSI?

A zero-knowledge proof is a cryptographic method that allows an individual to prove they possess certain information without revealing the information itself. In SSI, it can be used to prove age or other attributes without disclosing personal details.

Can you provide an example of how SSI can be used in a real-world scenario?

An example of SSI in real-world use is a decentralized scooter rental system where users can share their credentials directly with the scooter company, enabling a secure and privacy-preserving rental process.

What are some of the projects or initiatives working towards establishing SSI standards?

Projects like Hyperledger Aries, uPort, and Sovrin are working towards establishing SSI standards to enable universal identity layers for the web and promote technical interoperability.