identitiesonline

IdentitiesOnline is a concept and platform for managing digital identities across multiple online services. It envisions a portable, user-controlled identity that can be used to authenticate, authorize access, and disclose selective attributes without exposing the full personal profile. In practice, identities online are typically represented as a set of verifiable credentials issued by trusted authorities and referenced through decentralized identifiers, allowing users to present proofs to participating services.

A core objective is interoperability and user privacy. Systems built around identities online aim to minimize data disclosure, enable consent-based attribute sharing, and support portability between providers. Common components include a user-held digital wallet, credential issuance by trusted issuers (such as governments, employers, or certifying bodies), selective disclosure mechanisms, and verifiable proofs that verifiers can validate without accessing raw data.

Standards and governance often emphasize compatibility with open frameworks, including the W3C Verifiable Credentials standard and Decentralized Identifiers, to enable cross-platform verification and durable identity portability. Security considerations focus on protecting cryptographic keys, preventing credential forgery, and ensuring availability, though risks such as key loss, vendor lock-in, and reliance on infrastructure remain concerns. Critics note potential for uneven adoption, surveillance concerns, and the challenge of reconciling regulatory requirements with user autonomy.

IdentitiesOnline remains part of broader discussions about digital identity, data sovereignty, and privacy by design. See also digital identity, verifiable credentials, decentralized identity.