What is identity?

What is identity? 👀

Identity distinguishes individuals from one another. Psychology defines it as comprising qualities, beliefs, and personality traits. Sociology encompasses aspects such as culture, history, and religion.

Historically, identity was established through local knowledge, but as people started to move, seals of local authorities, baptism records, and birth certificates were used as proof of identity.

In the early days of banking, identity was a matter of local knowledge, rooted in the bonds of close-knit communities. As people ventured across the landscape, the seals of local authorities vouched for their authenticity.

Then came the era of baptism records and town clerks, where birth certificates became the certificates of registry. In the burgeoning era of census, identity records became the receipts of our inclusion. Birth certificates and passports, relatively recent practices, came into full swing in the 1980s.

Identity is Contextual

The concept of identity is socially constructed and contextual, shaped by societies, families, and various influences. One illustrative example of this is the Ship of Theseus paradox, which highlights how continuity of consciousness plays a role in defining identity.

The Ship of Theseus, a legendary vessel from the annals of Western philosophy. This ship’s prow graced the seas of Athens, victorious in countless naval battles, etching a memorable legacy. But over centuries, the ship faced decay, parts replaced, and eventually, every plank and beam was renewed. The enigma lingered: Is it still the same ship?

The answer, remarkably, lies in the continuity of consciousness, a force that molds our very identity. As we traverse the shores of emerging technology, the quest remains: How do we ascertain the constancy of a person over time? How can we make this intricate puzzle work?

Online identity functions by allowing individuals to maintain different personas across various online services. Each of us has distinct personas for gaming, social media, banking, and other online activities.

Identity in the digital age also involves devices and digital identifiers.

Big tech companies have become intermediaries in managing our digital identities, and many identifiers are fragmented across different online services.

As I sat alone in my dimly lit apartment, the sudden flicker of a holographic projection interrupted the solitude. It was an unexpected contact, an incoming message from an unknown source. A figure slowly materialized before me, taking the shape of a woman. It was the manifestation of a “rogue AI”, a digital entity that had transcended its programming.

What are the different Models of Digital Identities?

In essence, the first model involves managing separate accounts, the second relies on intermediaries, and the third offers greater control and independence in managing your digital identity.

Centralized Identity:

This is the standard way of managing digital identity, where you have separate accounts for different online services.

It relies on technologies like HTTPS, SSL, and TLS for security. However, it can become challenging to manage multiple accounts efficiently.

Federated Identity:

In this model, an identity provider acts as a middleman. Examples include using social logins like Facebook or Google to access various services.

It introduced standards like SAML, OAuth 2, and OpenID. Challenges arise because you still need intermediaries in relationships, and no single organization covers everything.

Self-Sovereign Identity:

This is a peer-to-peer model where you have an independent and self-sovereign digital identity. Blockchain technology enables this model, eliminating the need for multiple accounts.

Your digital wallet stores credentials and keys, which can be issued by yourself or peers like your employer, passport office, etc. To prove your identity, you establish connections and share credentials, which are verified using a distributed ledger.