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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 founded in 1994 by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. It develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth and evolution of the Web. These standards 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 aligns with the principles outlined by Tim Berners-Lee, who envisioned a Web built upon simplicity, modularity, decentralization, tolerance, and the Principle of Least Power.
Centralized vs. Decentralized Identity
Traditional identity systems like passports and social media profiles rely on centralized databases. These systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks due to a single point of failure (centralized storage) and data breaches. Furthermore, managing multiple accounts with weak passwords weakens security, and relying on identity providers raises privacy concerns. Learn more about the limitations of centralized identity systems in our article on Centralized vs. Decentralized Identity.
Decentralized identity offers a secure and user-centric alternative. By utilizing decentralized identifiers (DIDs) on distributed ledgers, these systems eliminate single points of failure, enhance privacy, and empower users to control their digital identities. DIDs are unique identifiers controlled by individuals, not centralized authorities. Public key cryptography verifies DID ownership, removing the need for intermediaries.
Exploring Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) are a revolutionary technology that transforms how individuals manage their digital identities. DIDs act as unique identifiers, enabling verifiable and self-sovereign digital identities. Secured by public key cryptography, DIDs empower users to control access to their personal information. By selectively sharing DIDs and corresponding credentials, users can manage their digital identities with precision and privacy.
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.
Self Sovereign Identity (SSI)
This shift towards user-controlled identities is embodied by Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI). SSI represents a significant shift in internet identity. It places full control of digital identities in the hands of individuals. This concept, gaining significant traction, revolves around user autonomy over their personal information (PII). Christopher Allen, a key figure in this domain, outlines ten core principles in his work, “The Path to Self-Sovereign Identity,” forming the essence of SSI. SSI empowers users to securely manage their personal data and decide what information to share and with whom. Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) are essential for SSI. These innovative technologies lay the groundwork for a decentralized identity system, offering immense potential, especially within the evolving Web3 landscape.
The Decentralized Web: Web3
Web3 embodies a vision for a decentralized, blockchain-powered web architecture that prioritizes user control over digital content and currency. Unlike Web2, its predecessor characterized by centralized platforms and trusted intermediaries, Web3 aims to democratize the internet. Core values of Web3 include decentralization, open-source collaboration, data privacy, ownership, and permissionless innovation. Web3 applications are designed for interoperability, enabling seamless integration and blurring the lines between products.
The Critical Identity Layer
However, Web2’s centralized identity systems raise concerns about user privacy and control. The early internet lacked a native identity layer. Initial use cases didn’t necessitate identity verification, and the limited user base allowed individual websites to manage identity validation. This paved the way for centralized identity providers. These entities not only hold user data but often leverage it for their own business models. The absence of user ownership and control over online identities exposes individuals to risks like hacking, manipulation, censorship, or even permanent loss.
To achieve this vision of a decentralized web, Web3 requires a native identity layer. This layer empowers users to leverage their DIDs to access services, conduct seamless economic transactions, and transfer ownership of digital or physical assets across various platforms. By establishing a secure and user-centric identity layer, Web3 can address the limitations of the current internet. This vision is what propelled Identity.com to join forces with the W3C, ensuring a robust and inclusive native identity layer for the future internet.
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.