URIiden

URIiden is a theoretical framework that defines a standardized approach to associating resource identifiers with identity information using Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). It aims to provide a coherent model for representing resource identities and their verified attributes across distributed systems, enabling interoperable identity discovery and attribute verification.

Origin and scope: URIiden emerged in discussions among researchers and practitioners in the early 2020s as a way to bridge URI-based resource identification and identity management. It is not an official standard, but a concept used in experimental projects and academic work. Proposals emphasize compatibility with web standards such as RDF, JSON-LD, and W3C Verifiable Credentials.

Architecture: the framework describes three coupled layers: identification, assertion, and verification. The identification layer uses persistent URIs to denote entities. The assertion layer attaches verifiable claims to the URI, typically expressed as cryptographically signed statements such as verifiable credentials. The verification layer provides mechanisms to verify signatures, revoke statements, and resolve authentic URIs via public keys or registries.

Lifecycle: a stable URI is created for an entity, identity assertions are minted, proofs are verified by relying parties, and credentials can be revoked or set to expire. Dereferencing the URI yields an identity envelope containing claims and provenance metadata.

Relation and applications: URIiden is conceptually aligned with DIDs and Verifiable Credentials but emphasizes direct URI binding. Potential uses include data provenance, access control, research data management, IoT device identity, and digital archives. Privacy concerns include selective disclosure and minimizing unnecessary URI exposure.

Status: as a hypothetical framework, URIiden remains speculative and not widely adopted. No formal specification exists, and governance is dispersed among research groups, laboratories, and independent consortia.