Cybersecurity Policy Report, ATIS White Paper Details 'Self-Sovereign Identity' Prospects, (Feb 3, 2023)

By Jeff Williams

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) issued a white paper yesterday that examined the need for traditional identity systems to adapt to regulations related to personally identifiable information and data privacy and how a "self-sovereign identity" (SSI) standard could be applied in various use cases to benefit consumers and service providers.

"SSI can unlock personal data in a way that fosters greater trust between consumers and businesses," ATIS President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Miller said in a news release. "The innovations covered in this new white paper have the potential to revolutionize identity, privacy, and consumer data protection. Both providers and consumers will benefit from the enhanced consumer trust this refined focus on trust, security, and privacy will bring."

SSI stands as a "unique type of digital identification" compared to other options because, among other things, it uses a secure, peer-to-peer network, which "allows for greater control and autonomy for the individual owning the ID, making SSI a potentially more effective and efficient option for identifying oneself and accessing services," the paper said.

In addition, it noted, the identity holder's data is stored in a "'verifiable credential' that is "cryptographically signed by the issuer" and held only by the identity holder, who can then present it to an identity verifier when they choose.

"SSI solutions prioritize the security and privacy of users," ATIS said in the paper. "With SSI, users can register or apply for services across multiple platforms using a single unique identification, making it more portable and convenient. In addition, SSI can provide a cost-effective way to improve identification systems and access to resources because it can reduce administrative processes and server load for service providers."

Establishing "clear guidelines" for credential issuers would provide a trust framework for verifiers and identity holders that "helps to ensure the integrity and reliability of the SSI system because it provides a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each party involved," the paper said.

The paper argued that SSI "has the potential to create value for telecom" in various ways, including by enabling them to provide a "more personalized and convenient experience" to their customers while also enabling them to improve their security and reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.

SSI also would enable telecom carriers to "streamline internal processes and reduce the need for manual verification" and create new business opportunities, "such as offering identity verification services to other organizations or enabling secure online transactions."

The paper also highlighted varying degrees of interest expressed by the U.S., Canadian, and European Union governments in supporting SSI.

"It is difficult to predict the exact future of SSI, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way that identity is verified and managed. SSI allows individuals to have greater control over their own identity data, enabling them to choose which information they share and with whom," the paper said. "This can improve privacy and security, as well as provide more efficient and convenient access to services."

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