Identity 2.0 Keynote

Summary

Dick Hart, CEO of Skip, discusses the evolution of identity, from traditional photo IDs to digital identity. He emphasizes the need for a user-centric, open, and scalable identity system (Identity 2.0) that mimics real-world credentials, enabling seamless online identity verification and privacy.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Identity is a multifaceted concept encompassing who a person is, including their personal details, affiliations, preferences, and more.
• 🏙️ Dick Hart, the speaker, introduces himself as the founder and CEO of Skip, highlighting his background and personal identity elements like his location, age, and professional roles.
• 🔍 Traditional identity verification methods have evolved from verbal trust to more formal documentation like passports and driver's licenses, which establish trust on a global scale.
• 📚 Identity is also about reputation, influenced by what others say about an individual, emphasizing the importance of trust in identity verification.
• 🛂 Modern identity transactions often involve photo IDs, which reduce friction in verification processes and provide scalability and privacy due to their asymmetry in trust relationships.
• 🌐 Digital identity currently faces challenges, such as the lack of verified information and the siloed nature of user data across different platforms, limiting the portability and flexibility of identity information.
• 🔑 Authentication methods like usernames and passwords are seen as a basic form of identity but lack the depth and verification of real-world identity documents.
• 🌐 Identity 2.0 is envisioned as a user-centric model where individuals can control and move their identity information seamlessly across different platforms, mirroring the flexibility of physical IDs.
• 🚀 The inevitability of Identity 2.0 is driven by the need for simplicity, openness, and the ability to mimic real-world identity verification in the digital space.
• 🤔 Various stakeholders, including users, enterprises, governments, banks, and websites, have different motivations and challenges in driving the transition to Identity 2.0, with web services and ecosystems playing a crucial role.
• 🌐 Technical solutions like XRI XDI, OpenID, SAML, and Microsoft's InfoCard are being explored, but there are concerns about their suitability for widespread adoption and their alignment with the principles of Identity 2.0.

Q & A

Who is Dick Hart?

Dick Hart is the founder and CEO of Skip, a company focused on identity solutions. He has a background in communications and was involved in projects like Pearl and Active State.

What is the significance of identity in the context of the presentation?

Identity in the presentation is discussed in terms of both personal and digital aspects. It encompasses who a person is, their background, affiliations, and preferences, as well as how this information is represented and verified in digital spaces.

What is the difference between identity 1.0 and identity 2.0?

Identity 1.0 is characterized by siloed, site-centric systems where users have to manage multiple usernames and passwords. Identity 2.0, on the other hand, is user-centric, allowing users to control their identity and move it seamlessly between different sites and services.

What are the challenges with current digital identity systems?

Current digital identity systems are often siloed, complex, and lack portability. They do not allow users to easily transfer their identity or credentials between different platforms, leading to a fragmented and inconvenient user experience.

Why is identity 2.0 considered inevitable?

Identity 2.0 is considered inevitable because it offers a simpler, more open approach that aligns with the trend of decentralization and user empowerment seen in other areas of technology, such as the shift from client-server to HTTP and HTML.

What is the role of photo ID in modern identity verification?

Photo ID plays a crucial role in modern identity verification by providing a visual confirmation of the individual's identity. It is used in various scenarios, such as age verification at a bar, and helps reduce friction in identity transactions by being easily verifiable and reusable.

What are some examples of identity silos mentioned in the presentation?

Examples of identity silos mentioned include eBay reputation, Amazon book purchases, and airline loyalty programs. These are closed systems where the user's identity and reputation cannot be easily transferred to other platforms.

What is the significance of the Simple Extensible Identity Protocol (SKIP)?

SKIP is a protocol designed to mimic how physical IDs like driver's licenses work, providing a low barrier entry for existing forms and digitally signed XML for verified claims. It aims to enable a more flexible and user-centric approach to digital identity.

What are the technical challenges in implementing identity 2.0?

Technical challenges in implementing identity 2.0 include developing systems that are secure, scalable, and interoperable across different platforms. There are also issues with existing infrastructure, such as the need for licenses for certain protocols like SAML, which may hinder widespread adoption.

How does the concept of 'claims' fit into the identity 2.0 model?

In the identity 2.0 model, 'claims' are specific pieces of information about an individual that can be verified and used to authenticate identity. They are crucial for enabling granular access control and allowing users to prove specific aspects of their identity without revealing more than necessary.