Self-Sovereign Identity: SSI
SSI refers to a decentralized identity model where individuals have full control over their personal data and identity without relying on a centralized authority (like governments or corporations). It allows individuals to create, manage, and share their digital identity with others securely and privately.
Example : Checking into a Hotel.
With Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), your phone becomes a powerful tool for managing and sharing your identity in a secure and private way. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how it works:
1. Storing Your Digital Identity on Your Phone
You start by storing your digital identity on a secure mobile app known as a digital wallet. This wallet contains verifiable credentials, like your driver's license, passport, or even a diploma. These credentials are cryptographically signed by trusted issuers (such as a government or university) and stored locally on your phone.
Example: You receive a digital driver's license issued by the DMV and store it in your app.
2. Selecting What Information to Share
When you're asked to verify your identity (for example, at a hotel or during an online transaction), the SSI system allows you to share only the necessary information. Unlike physical IDs, where you show all your details, SSI enabless share just your name and age instead of revealing your full ID.
Example: At a hotel, you might only share your name and confirmation number, not your full address.
3. Sending Your Digital Identity Securely
Using your phone’s digital wallet, you tap to send your credentials over a secure connection. The data is encrypted and only shared with the person or entity requesting it. This could be done via NFC (near-field communication), QR code, or a secure online transfer, depending on the situation.
Example: The hotel receptionist scans a QR code on your phone to instantly verify your identity.
The recipient, like a hotel or a bank, verifies your identity by checking the digital credential against the blockchain. Blockchain ensures that the credential is authentic, hasn’t been tampered with, and was issued by a trusted authority. No Instead, it holds only the cryptographic proofs that validate your credential.
Example: The hotel’s system checks the blockchain to verify your digital driver's license, confirming it's real and still valid.
5. Maintaining Control and Privacy
With SSI, you remain in control of your data throughout the process. No one can see or store your personal details without your permission, and there's no need for a centralized authority to manage or verify your identity.
Example: After the hotel has verified your identity, they don't retain any of your sensitive information. You know exactly who has seen your credentials and can revoke access at any time.
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