Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has introduced the concept of 'pluralistic identity' in his recent blog post. He argues that this system can ensure privacy protection and aid fair participation in digital life.
Risks of Single Digital Identity
Buterin noted that many new digital ID projects use zero-knowledge proofs to verify the existence of a valid ID without revealing personal details. However, he warned that strict enforcement of one ID per person risks eroding pseudonymity. 'In the real world, pseudonymity generally requires having multiple accounts,' he said.
Pluralistic IDs as a Solution
To achieve flexibility, Buterin proposed pluralistic identity systems where no single authority controls identity issuance. These IDs can be explicit or implicit, allowing multiple ID providers to interact and preventing the concentration on one ID.
Integrating Different Approaches to Identity
Buterin emphasized that the best outcome would result from merging one-per-person identity schemes with social-graph systems to create diverse and global identity networks. He noted that if the market share approaches 100%, it shifts the world to a one-per-person model, which has worse implications for privacy.
Thus, Buterin concludes that only pluralistic identity can balance privacy, inclusivity, and resistance to potential abuses.
