Table of Contents
- 1 What Is The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)?
- 2 Centralized Identity Systems: Vulnerabilities and Limitations
- 3 Decentralized Identity Systems: A Secure and User-Centric Alternative
- 4 Exploring Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
- 5 Empowering Self Sovereign Identity (SSI)
- 6 The Decentralized Web: Web3
- 7 The Significance of the Identity Layer
- 8 Why did Identity join the W3C?
In a significant move, Identity.com, a proud member of the Decentralized Identity Foundation, has joined the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This collaboration marks a pivotal step in the ongoing evolution of decentralized identity and furthers Identity.com’s commitment to shaping the future of the web.
What Is The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)?
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community that develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth and evolution of the World Wide Web. Established in 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, W3C plays a crucial role in setting the technical standards that underpin the Web. These standards, ranging from foundational technologies like HTML and CSS to underlying protocols like HTTP and XML, enable developers to create interoperable web applications that work seamlessly across various web browsers and devices.
W3C’s commitment to open standards reflects its dedication to decentralization. Open standards ensure that anyone can access and contribute to the development of the Web’s technical foundation, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative web ecosystem. This commitment to open standards aligns with the principles outlined by Tim Berners-Lee, who envisioned a Web that was built upon simplicity, modularity, decentralization, tolerance, and the Principle of Least Power.
Centralized Identity Systems: Vulnerabilities and Limitations
Traditional centralized identity models, such as government-issued passports and social media profiles, pose significant risks to user privacy and security. By relying on centralized databases, these systems become prime targets for cyberattacks, as evident in numerous data breaches. Therefore, the concentration of sensitive user information in these databases creates honeypots, making it easier for hackers to steal and exploit personal data.
Additionally, centralized identity systems often require users to create multiple accounts, leading to password fatigue and the adoption of weak passwords, further compromising security. Moreover, these systems often involve intermediaries, known as identity providers, who control access to user data, raising concerns about privacy and data exploitation.
Decentralized Identity Systems: A Secure and User-Centric Alternative
In contrast to centralized identity systems, decentralized identity systems offer a more secure and user-centric approach to identity management. By utilizing decentralized identifiers (DIDs) that reside on public blockchains, these systems eliminate single points of failure, enhance privacy, and empower users to control their digital identities.
DIDs are unique identifiers that serve as building blocks for decentralized identity systems. They are self-sovereign, meaning they are controlled by the individual rather than a centralized authority. DIDs are linked to public keys, which act as cryptographic signatures that verify the authenticity of DID holders. This decentralized approach removes the need for intermediaries and empowers individuals to manage their digital identities.
Exploring Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
Decentralized identifiers, also known as DIDs, are revolutionary technology that empowers individuals to take ownership of their digital identities. DIDs are unique identifiers that enable verifiable and self-sovereign digital identities.
DIDs are secured using public key cryptography, which allows users to control who can access their personal information and how it is used. By selectively sharing their DIDs and corresponding credentials, users can manage their digital identities in a granular and privacy-conscious manner.
Between the Decentralized Identity Foundation and the W3C DID Working Group, the foundational standards for decentralized identifiers are being designed and developed. Our very own CTO, Martin Riedel, actively participates in the Claims and Credentials Working Group, contributing to the advancement of this transformative technology.
This brings us to the concept of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI).
Empowering Self Sovereign Identity (SSI)
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) marks a significant shift in the internet identity industry, placing full control of digital identities in the hands of individuals. This concept, gaining prominence within the digital world, revolves around the principle of empowering users with autonomy over their personal information (PII). Christopher Allen, a key figure in this domain, elaborates on this through his work, “The Path to Self-Sovereign Identity,” outlining ten principles that form the essence of SSI. The essence of SSI lies in enabling users to securely manage their personal data and decide how much information they wish to share and with whom.
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VC’s) are instrumental in embracing SSI. These innovative technologies lay the groundwork for a decentralized identity system, offering substantial potential, especially in the evolving landscape of Web3.
The Decentralized Web: Web3
Web3 embodies a decentralized, blockchain-powered web architecture that prioritizes user control over digital content and currency. Unlike its predecessor, Web2, which ushered in centralization and reliance on trusted intermediaries like banks and tech platforms, Web3 aims to democratize the internet. It champions values such as decentralization, open-source collaboration, data privacy, ownership, and permissionless innovation. In the Web3 realm, developers design applications to be interoperable, enabling seamless integration and blurring the lines between products.
As you currently read this article through a Web2 browser, Web3 represents a return to decentralization, this time with a focus on user ownership, privacy, and the addition of an identity layer.
The Significance of the Identity Layer
It is crucial to recognize that the early internet lacked a native identity layer. As initial use cases did not demand identity verification and the number of users was limited, the responsibility for identity validation was shouldered by individual websites and applications. This eventually led to the emergence of centralized identity providers. These entities not only possess user data but often exploit it for their business models. The absence of ownership and control over one’s online identity exposes individuals to the risks of hacking, manipulation, censorship, or even permanent loss.
Web3 presents an opportunity to address this flaw by establishing a native identity layer. This layer empowers users to utilize their decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to access services, facilitate seamless economic transactions, and transfer ownership of digital or physical assets across various platforms. It is this vision that propelled Identity.com to join forces with the W3C, ensuring that the internet’s future embraces a robust and inclusive native identity layer.
Why did Identity join the W3C?
The journey towards the W3C began on September 1, 2021, when the Mozilla Foundation raised formal objections to block the approval of the Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) v1.0 specification. This objection came after the Mozilla Foundation’s Internet Health Report emphasized the growing concerns around centralized control exerted by a few dominant technology giants. Subsequently, both Google and Apple also filed formal objections, resulting in three out of the four major browser vendors voting against the DID 1.0 Specification.
These objections stem from the fear of the transformative future Web3 holds. Web3 challenges the control that these entities have over user data and disrupts their long-standing practices of surveillance and data acquisition.
Witnessing these objections and realizing the need for change, Identity.com decided to join the W3C to actively contribute to the fight for the future of the web. With Web3 as the driving force, we are committed to advancing decentralized identity and ensuring that a native identity layer becomes an integral part of the internet’s evolution.
By collaborating with the W3C, Identity.com aims to shape the development and adoption of decentralized identity standards. The W3C provides a platform for industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to come together, share knowledge, and establish consensus on critical aspects of web standards. Our participation in the W3C DID Working Group allows us to contribute to the design and development of foundational standards for DIDs and verifiable credentials.
Together, with other members of the Decentralized Identity Foundation and the W3C DID Working Group, we are paving the way for a future where individuals have control over their digital identities, eliminating the risks associated with centralized systems and empowering users with privacy, security, and ownership.