The Impact of Decentralized Identity On Privacy

Source

Introduction

It is a shame to come to see little by little that the old method or the traditional centralized identity systems can no longer meet up with our needs to maintain our anonymity in this dynamic and constantly evolving technological world which is why, gradually we are taking the initiative to turn to and employ the decentralized identity system.

The decentralized identity system has promise to do away with, and address certain issues which the centralized identity system was prone to like; data breaches, identity thefts and unnecessary surveillance from regulatory authorities did the centralized identity system no doubt operates on blockchain technology and our surge we can be guaranteed of increased security and privacy.

Here, today in this post of mine I will be explaining and discussing some of the significant and noteworthy impact which the introduction and implementation of the new decentralized identity system has had and is likely to have on privacy as we know it.

• Enhanced Control Of Personal Data

One of the significant and noteworthy impacts of using decentralized identity systems is that it's gives its users an increased or total control over their identity, they no longer have to depend or share control of their identity management, protection and all with centralized authority.

The decentralize identity system is a perfect alternative to the traditional identities system seeing as unlike it which has to store the personal and sensitive information of it's users on central servers which are controlled or owned by government or regulatory organizations and are known to be susceptible to hacking attacks and threats of data breaches not forgetting unnecessary surveillance.

The centralized identity systems however gives the owners of the sensitive and personal information which is to be stored the opportunity and power to control and protect their own data, they basically have the power to decide what when and with whom to share their data with as a result reduceing the risk of identity theft or unauthorized access.

• Reduced Risk Of Data Breaches

There is a saying that goes "do not put all your eggs in one basket" this is so as to not attract attention to the basket so the same way too owing to the fact that there exist a singular central database which contains all the personal sensitive information of majority of people it attracts the attention of hackers and identity thieves.

Source

Unlike centralized identity systems, decentralized identities systems operates by basically hiding to the advice of do not put your all your eggs in one basket it therefore, distributes data and information across multiple and different network of nodes therefore making it almost impossible for there to be a data breach.

And even in the event that there is a data breach, the amount of data that will be compromised will not be useful to the attacker it will be of very very low significance owing to the fact that it is only a single or minor part of a much much larger pool of database.

• Increased Transparency And Trust

Anything decentralized has the reputation of operating on a trustless system meaning that you don't need to trust in the system to work properly, it just does, it is just impossible for it to do otherwise just like you don't need to trust that if you put your hand in fire it will burn, you just know.

Additionally, decentralized identity systems also offer to its users increased transparency the users know how their data and information is being handled as a matter of fact they are allowed to take part in managing and protecting of their personal and sensitive information as a result, they are sure that their data is safe and secure as well as their identity.

• Immune To Censorship And Surveillance

There is something called censorship this is basically a form of bias it's only affect humans because as we are all know a computer program cannot be bias so by the decentralized identity systems making use of protocols and features like smart contracts because such as censorship in the processes involved in managing our identity will be eliminated.

Additionally it has always been a known fact that the government and its regulatory bodies tends to monitor and carry out mass surveillance on its citizens and it is sad to say that these centralized identity systems is one of the means in which they use to do so.

However, decentralized identity systems when employed or implemented eliminates any possibility of mass surveillance from the government or it's regulatory bodies seeing us the information and personal data of users on the decentralized identity system is distributed across network of nodes and operates on a kind of peer to peer system as a result, making it immune to any form of access authorized or unauthorized.

Conclusion

Source

I would like to say a very big thank to everyone of my fellow steemians who made the effort to read and go through this post which I have made, and I hope that you have been able to learn a few things for example, like some of the significant impacts of the decentralized identity system on privacy.

Some of these significant and noteworthy impacts, all of the one in which I took my time to discuss and explain in this post are; It is immune to censorship and surveillance, Increases transparency and trust, enhances control of personal data and reduces risk of data breach.