Sovereign Identity Part 3: What are the Challenges?
Sovereign Identity Part 3: What are the Challenges?
Thursday 1F Convener: Drummond Reed
Notes-taker(s): Drummond Reed
Tags for the session - technology discussed/ideas considered:
sovereign identity, digital identity, user-centric identity, blockchain, policy, challenges, adoption
Discussion notes, key understandings, outstanding questions, observations, and, if appropriate to this discussion: action items, next steps:
The session was part 3 to the “What is Sovereign Identity?” session from Tuesday and “Sovereign Identity Part 2: How is it Enabled by Blockchain Technologies?” The first part of the session focused on the history of user-centric identity as discussed and developed at IIW over the past 12 years and how many of them are every bit as relevant to “sovereign identity” as they have been to user-centric identity.
We then began discussing the challenges to sovereign identity, listing them on the whiteboard shown below. A summary version:
- How do we communicate about sovereign identity, i.e., educate the audience of individuals and relying parties?
- How do individuals obtain verified attributes for sovereign identities?
- How do individuals obtain the technology they need to assert and control a sovereign identity?
- How do individuals and relying parties deal with the plethora of messaging technologies today (170+ OTT (Over The Top) messaging apps)?
- How should sovereign identities interact with bots?
- How do we recruit relying parties (RPs)?
The final point about relying parties received the most discussion. The key point was that relying parties need to be able to get the data or credentials they require at the level of assurance they require—and that this will not be easy. What’s necessary is to have enough incentive for all parties.
At the end, Drummond polled the group to ask, “How many believe that the emergence of blockchain technology is a breakthrough for sovereign identity?” Over 90% of the room agreed. Only 2 attendees were skeptical of that conclusion.
