Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)

Users must have an independent existence. Any SSI system must recognize that a digital identity is a representation of a real-world entity—a person, organization, or device—that exists outside the digital realm. This principle grounds the identity in a non-digital reality, preventing purely virtual or bot-generated identities from having the same standing without explicit context.

Users must control their identities. The architecture must grant the identity holder absolute authority over their identity data. This means the user can always refer to, update, or even hide their identity without requiring permission from an intermediary. Control is enforced through cryptographic ownership of private keys, ensuring no administrative backdoor can override the user's intent.

Users must have access to their own data. An SSI system must ensure that the identity holder can easily retrieve all claims and data associated with their identifier. There must be no hidden data or gatekeeping by the platform provider. This principle mandates user-facing interfaces and protocols that allow for full data export and portability without vendor lock-in.

Systems and algorithms must be transparent. The codebase, cryptographic protocols, and governance frameworks underpinning an SSI network must be open-source and publicly auditable. Transparency ensures that the technical implementation of identity management does not secretly deviate from the promised privacy and control guarantees, allowing security researchers to verify the integrity of the system.

Identities must be long-lived. While specific claims or credentials may be ephemeral or revocable, the core identifier itself must persist for as long as the user requires. SSI systems achieve this through Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) that are not dependent on a single server or registry that could go offline, ensuring the identity remains valid indefinitely.

Information and services about identity must be transportable. Users must not be locked into a single identity provider. The architecture must support the transfer of identity data and credentials between different platforms and wallets. This is technically realized through standardized data models like Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and protocols like DIDComm, which allow seamless migration.

Identities should be as widely usable as possible. SSI relies on global standards (W3C, IETF) to ensure that an identity created in one ecosystem can be verified in another. This requires a strict adherence to standardized schemas and protocols, preventing walled gardens and allowing a Verifiable Presentation generated in Wallet A to be verified by Platform B without custom integration.

Users must agree to the use of their identity. Any sharing of identity data must require the explicit, informed consent of the user. This is technically enforced through Selective Disclosure and cryptographic proof generation, where the user actively signs a Verifiable Presentation to share specific data with a verifier, rather than granting blanket access to a database.

Disclosure of claims must be minimized. When data is shared, the system must reveal only the absolute minimum necessary to satisfy the verifier's request. Technologies like Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and BBS+ Signatures allow a user to prove they are over 18 without revealing their exact birthdate, or prove they are a citizen without revealing their passport number.

The rights of users must be protected. The architecture must prioritize the security and privacy of the identity holder above the needs of the network. When a conflict arises between the technical operation of the network and the individual's rights, the architecture must default to protecting the user. This includes resistance to coercion and robust Revocation Registries that do not leak privacy.