onesIda

onesIda is a proposed open standard and reference framework for digital identity and personal data management. It envisions a user-centric model that enables individuals to prove credentials, control data sharing, and move identity information across services without re-creating proofs.

Origin and purpose: The term onesIda was introduced in a set of privacy- and rights-focused white papers published in 2023 by a cross-disciplinary group of researchers and practitioners. The project is intended as a conceptual framework rather than a single company’s product, aiming to harmonize identity verification, consent management, and data portability in a decentralized setting.

Architecture and components: onesIda describes a multi-layer architecture consisting of an identity layer based on decentralized identifiers (DIDs), a data layer hosting verifiable credentials in user-owned wallets, a policy layer for consent and access control, and an interoperability layer that defines APIs and data formats for cross-platform use.

Privacy, security, and governance: The approach emphasizes user control, privacy-preserving techniques such as selective disclosure and optional zero-knowledge proofs, and governance mechanisms to align with legal frameworks and ethical considerations. As a proposed standard, implementation details vary across drafts with no single reference implementation universally recognized.

Status and reception: As of the mid-2020s, onesIda remains in the draft or exploratory stage and has not been adopted as an official standard by major standards bodies. It has influenced discussion around self-sovereign identity and data portability in academic and industry pilots but competes with other SSI-related efforts.

See also: Decentralized identifiers, Verifiable credentials, Self-sovereign identity, Digital wallet, Data portability.