Sovereignty, privacy, and ethics in blockchain-based identity management systems

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Information Science
• Ethics

Background:

• Blockchain technology enables self-sovereign identity (SSI) solutions.
• SSI is proposed as a foundational standard for global identity management systems.
• Existing digital identification systems face challenges addressed by SSI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concept of self-sovereign identity (SSI) in the context of blockchain technology.
• To explore the definition of 'self-sovereignty' regarding individual control over private data and storage.
• To investigate the ethical implications of SSI by examining the normative substance of 'sovereignty'.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of 'self-sovereignty' in digital identity.
• Examination of blockchain's role in identity management.
• Ethical review of data control and privacy in SSI.

Main Results:

• Self-sovereign identity (SSI) empowers individuals with control over their identity data.
• A narrow technical interpretation of SSI can obscure significant ethical concerns.
• Ubiquitous private data collection raises complex ethical issues for human identity.

Conclusions:

• While blockchain-based SSI offers promising individual data control, its implementation requires careful ethical consideration.
• The concept of 'sovereignty' in SSI necessitates a deeper understanding of its moral and societal implications.
• Addressing the ethical dimensions of SSI is crucial for navigating the future of digital identity and data privacy.