- Ethereum inventor Vitalik Buterin proposes “pluralistic IDs” to improve digital identity without endangering privacy.
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs help, but disadvantages such as the limitation to a single identity remain.
Vitalik Buterin has presented a new concept that he calls “pluralistic identity” and suggests it as a better way to secure the confidentiality of personal data. While some welcome the advent of zero-knowledge (ZK)-based ID systems such as Worldcoins World ID and Taiwan’s national ZK-ID program initiative, but Beterin insufficiently holds it.
In his latest article If he goes into how ZK- (Zero-Knowledge) IDS solve part of the problem: they allow the user to prove their justification for online campaigns without disclosing sensitive information. Nevertheless, the model is incomplete in his opinion.
A strong system with only one identity per person is well suited for bot prevention and manipulation, but can limit the freedom of users, e.g. B. the right not to be anonymous or to have several identities. Buterin refers to current examples such as social networks, where individuals have several accounts for different functions. But an extreme ZK identity system will not give you this option, since all user activities run under the same, traceable digital “face”.
Weaknesses of the one-ID identity
One main problem is that one-ID-per-person mechanisms restrict pseudonymity. Social media services can use strict identities so that individuals Have difficulty become, several personas to have, was In internet culture is common.
If only one app-specific ID per service is allowed, can The userbe private and public life possibly not separated lead . Another great risk is coercion. Governments, employers or even apps can force users to reveal their digital identity secrets.
In such scenarios, the data protection promise of ZK-Proofs is nailed. According to the butterin, the compulsion can through advanced concepts such as multi -party calculations reduce if not complete. Errors are another weak point.
Standard ID-based systems overlooked often undocumented or compromised biometric data. This can be used by a nation state to a large extent by the edition of fake IDs.
These weak points Become uneven On the one-ID-Pro-Personal rule transmittedwhere the ZK technology is not very effective.
Pluralistic IDs are safer
Buterins “Pluralistic identity” would change that. He does not advocate one Those, but for several forms of identity. These can be explicitly, such as verification on social networks, such as circles, or implicitly, such as several overlapping accounts on Twitter or Google.
The strength of pluralism lies in its resistance. He can patiently tolerate mistakes and restrict the monopoly of a single authority. It enables pseudonymity and thwarts forced by distributing trust in many sources.
Buterin beats The use of the N² cost model for identities before d . h. The individual accumulates more identities, whereby the costs are not linear. This discourages symbol attacks without disadvantageing normal users.
This proposal will von Unique attractiveness for crypto government and UBILIKE suggestions bewo an identity is required without that Makes with the Are sufficient centralized.
Instead of transferring total control with a biometric check or a single ID card made available by the state, can die pluralistic identity From Ethereum Create an adaptable, data protection -friendly internet for everyone.
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