How We're Born with a Decentralized, Biometrics-Based Identity

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In previous centuries, people had little to no need for identification documents because they didn't move around very much, meaning everyone else knew who they were without any need for documentation. This is due to the fact that we are all unique, and, additionally, we all possess very keen abilities when it comes to recognizing each other. In this sense, people were born with their identity, that identity was given a name, and there was no hope of ever falsifying that identity without moving far away and being careful not to encounter anyone you knew.

In contrast, very few of us in the developed world enjoy this sense of community, as we live in large population centers and move around a great deal, thus making proof of identity an absolute necessity for practically everything we do. This is especially true when it comes to non-personal forms of communication, in which case it is very difficult to verify someone's identity, giving rise to rampant identity theft despite the oftentimes Orwellian vigor of our current documentation standards.

Biometrics, however, can bring back the days when our face was our passport. Just like our friends and family can recognize us beyond any doubt by our physical attributes, to the point where they can identify us simply by our walk, so too can electronic devices identify us by these same biometric markers-and many more!

I know exactly what you're thinking at this point. That this is an invasion of your privacy that will lead to some dystopian future where you end up as soylent green. Well, I can't promise that that's not the case, and of course I have misgivings about biometrics myself in terms of privacy and the exercise of individual liberty. But consider these two points:

First and foremost, your biometric markers are already public information that anyone can record without your permission or knowledge. And that is exactly what's happening! Large corporations are recording your biometric markers and using them to track your behavior, and, as if that weren't bad enough already, selling the data to anyone willing to pay for it, most likely including the government.

Secondly, this right to anonymity that we believe we have is a very recent phenomenon in human history, and probably more of an illusion than a reality in the first place. This ability that we have nowadays to get lost in the crowd is something most people didn't enjoy in previous eras. Just ask someone who grew up in a small town, and they will tell you that everyone knew everyone's business at all times. This idea that free speech is dependent upon anonymity is perhaps not without merit, but at the same time anonymity is largely an illusion. What we have in actuality is the perception of anonymity, that could be made public at any moment, as everyone from Google to the NSA likely knows more about you than even they want to.

There is also a consequence of anonymity, as we have all seen in the form of internet trolls. Going back to an era in which people had no anonymity, is being held accountable for your words such a bad thing? And in terms of free speech, anonymity could also arguably be leading to an increase in group think, in which people anonymously speak their mind when behind a computer screen, only to clam up and "go with the flow" whenever making an opinion public. I personally believe people are more likely to be themselves when and where it counts if they're used to the idea of having to be accountable. For one thing, anonymous opinions don't mean much of anything, and you're not helping your cause by posting some anonymous message on the internet, only to go back to kowtowing to the party line when not behind a computer screen.

Finally, would you not rather have the identity with which you were born, as opposed to some government issued ID number? Only you are you, and, despite all of its wonders, technology has not found a way to fake you yet. Your face, voice, fingerprints, vein patterns, eyes, gate...those are all uniquely you, cannot be faked, and if used correctly could put an end to identity theft once and for all.

Sow how would it work? Well, to make a long story short, you would upload your biometric information to a blockchain. It could be done through any number of apps or websites, would take only minutes, and could be accomplished with virtually any laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This would create a blockchain based profile of your biometric markers that would be the foundation of your identity.

The next step would be to begin populating your identity with your various accreditations, starting with your name. This would be accomplished by various entities associating an accreditation with your identity profile. For example, vital records would vouch for your name and date of birth, and your university would vouch for your having earned a certain degree.

But the applications are far broader than just official institutions. As someone with experience moderating public forums, and the inevitable mountain of spam and troll accounts that go with them, I can testify to the fact that a biometric based identity would be most welcome in the area of online registrations. Instead of banning an email or IP address, administrators could ban the actual troll itself.

And the implications for the user are even more incredible. Imagine never having to memorize another password or user name ever again, and having absolutely no fear whatsoever of identity theft. With all of the online applications we use today, the number of passwords we have to manage and update regularly is quickly going from impractical to impossible to manage.

But couldn't someone hack your identity? While the potential is certainly there, using a combination of biometric markers would make it increasingly difficult. For example, logging into an account could require a facial recognition scan in conjunction with voice recognition, where you would look into a camera and repeat a phrase that was randomly generated by each authentication. The more sensitive the account, the more strenuous the authentication would be, meaning more simultaneous biometric markers would be required in order to gain access. Your vital signs could even be taken into account to guard against coercion, whether through force or intoxication. With criminals using substances like scopolamine to empty victims' bank accounts, a computer might recognize your distress in instances where a human would not.

What would be the incentive for hosting the blockchain? Well, like any other blockchain, a decentralized identity would have to be dependent on some sort of financial reward. With that said, the cost would be far less than existing methods, as you would only have to pay whenever creating or updating your information, such as accreditations. Simply using your identity to authenticate something wouldn't require solving any math problems on the blockchain itself. The application in question would simply access the information that's already there without the need to modify it, much like something like etherscan can allow you to view your Etherium wallet without charging any fees. It would simply access your "identity wallet" and compare the information in it to what you were giving it in real time via that particular authentication session. Considering a simple driver's license can now cost up to a hundred dollars in some states, the savings would undoubtedly be worthwhile in and of themselves. And this isn't even taking into account the public cost of identity theft, which would be wiped out overnight.

Again, I want to reiterate that your biometric markers are already being collected without your knowledge or consent, and arguably being used for purposes that aren't to your advantage. With the toothpaste already out of the tube, it's high time we take control of our biometric identity and start using it to our advantage. This could even include our financial advantage. The primary use for biometrics right now is tracking customer behavior, and this information is then sold to companies to use to target advertising, amongst other things. Shouldn't you get a piece of that action, considering it's your data that's being collected and sold for a profit?

As we speak, there are already blockchain-based applications that seek to give customers control over their data, in order to reward them financially for everything from reviews to purchase histories. Such things combined with a decentralized biometrics-based identity could result in you getting paid to do things you normally do, like shopping, riding on public transportation, going to the movies...the possibilities are endless. Virtually everything you interact with yields valuable user data, which public works and private companies can use to optimize their infrastructures, thereby increasing profit. Again, you deserve a piece of that action.

In closing, I would also add that this technology can still be used alongside traditional means of authentication, namely passwords, so it could, at least in the beginning, be used to strengthen already existing authentication methods. For example, a facial recognition scan could be completed in the time it takes you to enter your password, adding an extra layer of security with no reduction in convenience. In other words, this can be implemented slowly, and it can even be designed so as to give you ultimate control over what you allow any given application to see. This means you can prove your education to an employer without alerting them to the fact that you have a politically charged or otherwise controversial accreditation, such as a firearm permit or a medical marijuana card. This would be accomplished by having your basic biometric profile publicly accessible on the blockchain, but having your accreditations protected by a private key. Again, this is all about giving you control over your own identity.