There are many examples of an SSI model that is working in the field. The issue isn’t about whether it functions. Nor is the issue about distributed ledger data storage. The issue is the appropriate level of trust that the claimant is, in fact, the actual living human that was granted privileges by the issuing authority (the credit union in this case).
This screenshot from that system highlights the point. “Bad data in is bad data out”…if you don’t know who you’re enrolling, you can’t know who controls the SSI credential or the device the credential is bound to. Moreover, the system says it uses face and/or finger biometrics. I promise you they refer to “device-native” biometrics supplied by the device manufacturer. But these are “Anonymous Biometrics”, which are biometric data that’s not bound to verified identity data anywhere AND can be replaced with anyone’s biometric data, who has the device PIN.
In this system, the very best applicant identity verification is weak at best and provisioning can only be done in the credit unions office. It can’t be done remotely, because you have absolutely no idea of who is supplying the verifiable identity data and who is in control of the device the credentials will be provisioned to. This exact vector is being used to commit identity frauds and breaches today.
Under these circumstances, the system effectively enables fraud, by allowing for the enrollment of a fraudster in the system, as a legitimate customer. And then it will authenticate that fraudster as a legitimate customer every single time, because the claimants credentials are irrefutable.
Make sense?
Jay
On Nov 22, 2023, at 11:22 AM, heather vescent <puissant@heathervescent.com> wrote:
Hi All,
Reading the info, looks like they may set up the account in a member branch, using a specific app based wallet to hold the credential, which can then be used in person or online (and I might think in the metaverse scenario too).
Say what you will about decentralized identity, but this is working and has been in production for years.
Cheers,
-Heather
Bad in, bad out is certainly a useful way to frame it. As Pieter says, the challenge with the VCs is multifold;
- is the ID legitimate? Tons of good fakes, especially in the US
- is the person in the selfie being compared to the ID a real live individual?
- how to continuously authenticate the owner of the VC held within a device or wallet is the same one who enrolled?
-- ~ The Future in Present Tense ~