The Future of Digital Identity: Simplified Insights from EthCC 2024

It's been a month since we returned from EthCC 2024 in Brussels. It was insightful, transformative and motivating!

One of the sessions I attended was "The Future of Digital Identity" by dcbuilder.eth from the World Foundation

Here's a simplified overview of what I learned:

Current Issues with Digital Identity

Today, our personal data is collected and monetized by big companies, but we, the users, don't benefit from it. We don't have control over our own data. We don't have self-sovereign.

New Technologies in Cryptography

There are several new advancements in cryptography that can help us prove our identity and information without compromising our privacy. These include:

• ZK Proof: Prove something is true without revealing the details.
• FHE (Fully Homomorphic Encryption): Allows computations on encrypted data.
• MPC (Multi-Party Computation): Multiple parties compute a function without revealing their inputs.
• TEE (Trusted Execution Environment): Secure area in a device's main processor.

Some proofs:

1. ZK Email: is a library that allows for anonymous verification of email signatures while masking specific data. It enables verification of emails to/from specific domains or subsets of domains, as well as verification based on specific text in the email body. It helps connect traditional web (Web2) data with blockchain (Web3).
2. zkLogin: Let you sign transactions on a blockchain using your credentials from sites like Facebook or Google, without publicly linking them.
3. TLS Notary: it allows users to securely export data from any website using the HTTPS protocol. This data can then be shared in a cryptographically verifiable manner, making it useful for Web3 applications.
4. World ID: A decentralized identity protocol that prioritizes privacy. It can be used as a digital passport to prove you are a unique and real person without sharing personal data like names and email addresses.
5. Rate Limiting Nullifiers (RLN): Prevents spam by limiting actions a user can take based on their identity.
6. Minimal Anti-Collusion Infrastructure (MACI): Ensures secure, private, and fair online voting by preventing cheating and bribery.
7. Attestations: Confirm the truthfulness of data or statements, which is important for reviews and public opinions.
8. Among others

Examples of Digital Identity Systems

• e-Identity (Estonia)
• AADHAAR (India)
• Resident Identity Card (China)

The Future of Digital Identity

Zero-knowledge proofs will play a big role in digital identity. They let us prove information without revealing sensitive details. This self-sovereign approach, where individuals control their own data, is key.

Challenges Ahead

Standardizing these new technologies and protocols will be challenging, but it's essential for a secure and user-controlled digital identity future.

Another insightful session I attended was "Context-Based, Private Proof of Uniqueness" by my friend Sebastian Rodriguez from Privado ID (Formerly Polygon ID) . Here are the highlights:

The session focused on the idea of protecting your unique identifier (like your passport) with context-based unique identifiers. Instead of using the same identifier everywhere, this system creates a different identifier for each context or interaction, making it harder for someone to track you across different activities.

How It Works: Every interaction you have creates a new, unique identifier specific to that context. This identifier is fungible, meaning it's only valid within that specific interaction and cannot be used elsewhere.

Problems with Universal Database Identifiers:

• No anonymity: Universal identifiers can be traced back to you.
• Identity theft: Easier with a single identifier used across multiple applications.
• Cross-application tracking: Activities can be tracked across different platforms.
• Biometric identifiers: Can be verified without consent.

Importance of Context-Based Identifiers:

• Anonymity: Using universal identifiers everywhere can compromise anonymity, as they can be tracked back to you. Context-based identifiers help maintain privacy by changing in different scenarios.
• Protection from Tracking: By using different identifiers in different contexts, it's much harder for anyone to track your activities across multiple interactions.
• Consent-Based Verifiability: These identifiers are not universally accessible and require consent for verification.

Context-based unique identifiers offer a promising solution for enhancing privacy and security in digital interactions. They protect your identity by creating unique, secure identifiers for each context, making it difficult for anyone to track or misuse your personal information.

In the era of generative AI, societies will face a crisis of trust. Let’s build systems of trust that don’t undermine our right to privacy.

Finally but not least I will talk about the use case of Unstoppable with @sandy Carter and Pudgy Penguins @luka netz.

Key Takeaways

1. Community is Central: As Sandy said, "The community is the project and the project is the community." Building a strong digital identity is crucial for fostering and growing these communities.
2. Digital Identity in Community Building: The “DOT” strategy, or how you represent your identity online (like a username or domain), should align with your community and the future of “onchain” interactions.
3. Pudgy Penguins Strategy:

Future of Digital Communities

Digital communities will play a significant role in the future. People see value in these communities and want to be part of them. For example, Pudgy Penguins users can have a unique identity like luca.pudgy that they use across multiple platforms. This single identity allows for seamless login and interaction in various digital spaces.

Recent Announcements from Pudgy Penguins

1. Pudgy World Login: Users will be able to log in to Pudgy World using their .pudgy identity.
2. Access to AbstractChain: Pudgy Penguin Parent Firm, Igloo Inc., has acquired Frame, providing users access to AbstractChain through their .pudgy identity.

Future Applications

Looking ahead, your digital identity could encompass much more than just community interaction. For instance, silviamogas.eth could potentially hold:

• Vaccination records
• Birth certificate
• Citizenship details
• Healthcare records

The integration of digital identity with NFTs and blockchain technology is opening new avenues for community building and personal data management. By aligning your identity with your community, you can create a cohesive and secure online presence that extends far beyond social interactions.

See you in Cannes!

silviamogas.eth

www.silviamogas.com