Self-Sovereign Identity

Book excerpt: In Self-Sovereign Identity: Decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials, you’ll learn how SSI empowers us to receive digitally-signed credentials, store them in private wallets, and securely prove our online identities. Summary In a world of changing privacy regulations, identity theft, and online anonymity, identity is a precious and complex concept. Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a set of technologies that move control of digital identity from third party “identity providers” directly to individuals, and it promises to be one of the most important trends for the coming decades. Personal data experts Drummond Reed and Alex Preukschat lay out a roadmap for a future of personal sovereignty powered by the Blockchain and cryptography. Cutting through technical jargon with dozens of practical cases, it presents a clear and compelling argument for why SSI is a paradigm shift, and how you can be ready to be prepared for it. About the technology Trust on the internet is at an all-time low. Large corporations and institutions control our personal data because we’ve never had a simple, safe, strong way to prove who we are online. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) changes all that. About the book In Self-Sovereign Identity: Decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials, you’ll learn how SSI empowers us to receive digitally-signed credentials, store them in private wallets, and securely prove our online identities. It combines a clear, jargon-free introduction to this blockchain-inspired paradigm shift with interesting essays written by its leading practitioners. Whether for property transfer, ebanking, frictionless travel, or personalized services, the SSI model for digital trust will reshape our collective future. What's inside The architecture of SSI software and services The technical, legal, and governance concepts behind SSI How SSI affects global business industry-by-industry Emerging standards for SSI About the reader For technology and business readers. No prior SSI, cryptography, or blockchain experience required. About the authors Drummond Reed is the Chief Trust Officer at Evernym, a technology leader in SSI. Alex Preukschat is the co-founder of SSIMeetup.org and AlianzaBlockchain.org. Table of Contents PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO SSI 1 Why the internet is missing an identity layer—and why SSI can finally provide one 2 The basic building blocks of SSI 3 Example scenarios showing how SSI works 4 SSI Scorecard: Major features and benefits of SSI PART 2: SSI TECHNOLOGY 5 SSI architecture: The big picture 6 Basic cryptography techniques for SSI 7 Verifiable credentials 8 Decentralized identifiers 9 Digital wallets and digital agents 10 Decentralized key management 11 SSI governance frameworks PART 3: DECENTRALIZATION AS A MODEL FOR LIFE 12 How open source software helps you control your self-sovereign identity 13 Cypherpunks: The origin of decentralization 14 Decentralized identity for a peaceful society 15 Belief systems as drivers for technology choices in decentralization 16 The origins of the SSI community 17 Identity is money PART 4: HOW SSI WILL CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS 18 Explaining the value of SSI to business 19 The Internet of Things opportunity 20 Animal care and guardianship just became crystal clear 21 Open democracy, voting, and SSI 22 Healthcare supply chain powered by SSI 23 Canada: Enabling self-sovereign identity 24 From eIDAS to SSI in the European Union