The Pillars of Identity
There are three fundamental pillars of identity: Inclusion, Protection, and Empowerment. These three pillars comprise the most important considerations for any form of proof of identity, regardless of the medium. And with Identity Day taking place on September 16th, it is a great opportunity to reflect on these three pillars, and the fundamental human right to hold and control their own identity.
Identity Day commemorates the three pillars and our human rights of identity. Taking place on September 16th, or 16.9, Identity Day is also in commemoration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which recognises the crucial importance of proof of identity, and calls for provision of legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.
Before we get into the three pillars of identity, let’s reflect on the concept and meaning of identity. At the root of the word is the idea of sameness or oneness, and when the philosophical concept of identity was originally formulated, it pertained to the relationship between the individual and the collective. Put another way, our identity was considered that with which we identify, to be the same as, or share the same beliefs. At the time, identity referred more to the concept of equality of individuals, and their relationship with one another and the collective specifically in terms of their legal rights and obligations.
The contemporary definition of identity goes beyond the ways we may be the same and includes the ways in which we differ. So while we may share similarities, physical or otherwise, we are distinct from one another; we are unique. A myriad of qualities make up the identity of an individual. From the overt, physical characteristics, like eye or hair colour, height, skin colour, or the sound of our voice, to the less obvious — name, nationality, race, profession, gender, and sexual identity, to list a few. These many facets of an individual comprise their identity, and shape the way they think of themselves, others, and the interactions we collectively share.
Inclusion
Being able to express our identity and having it accurately represented by the documents demonstrating its proof are of equal importance. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. For example, many state-level identity documents don’t provide the option for gender representation beyond the binary of male and female. So many live without this fundamental right. It’s estimated that 1.1 billion people on Earth live without any proof of identity. That’s more than 14% of all people on the planet. One in four children under the age of 5 have never been officially recorded, which deprives them of the necessary proof of identity to protect their rights and grant them access to the justice and social services they need to live full and healthy lives.
Inclusion is about reducing barriers for those who aren’t able to access state-recognised forms of identification, whether due to geographical, political, financial, or any other barrier that might exist. Inclusion also means the ability to express oneself and the way we identify, with ourselves and each other, not just the colour of our hair, height, or weight.
Protection
The second pillar of identity is the right and the ability to ensure our identity is secured against theft or fraud, and our privacy is protected. While identity theft is one of the most common risks to consider when thinking about identity protection, it’s not the only one. Take for example, there are a myriad of risks when you aren’t granted the agency to manage your own identity. Centralised identity systems, which are currently the most common and include nearly all state-level systems, do not empower individuals to manage their own identity. Individuals are provided identity documents, like a driver’s license, but the power to manage or alter the identity information contained within the identity document is retained by the state. This has been a paradigm of identity management for a long time, and is reliable most of the time, for most people. But what if the centralised authority is incapacitated, or worse destroyed? These situations are not uncommon and can leave individuals with no way of authenticating their identity.
Decentralised and self-sovereign identity management solutions like IAMX grant individuals the agency to hold and manage their own identity, with all the power and responsibility that comes with it. IAMX grants users the means and the ability to protect their own identity without having to rely on the security or efficiency of a centralised authority.
Empowerment
If you’re someone who possesses proof of identity, do you know if you’re maximising its value and taking advantage of the access it grants? Holding a formal proof of identity conveys legitimacy and often grants access to a wealth of important programs and services, not the least of which is the ability to access financial services.
Empowerment is also about equality of inclusion and participation. Are you receiving equitable benefits and participating to the extent your fellow citizens are? In many places this includes the right to vote and participate in political activity, and much more.
In celebration of Identity Day, we encourage you to reflect on the ways you are empowered as one who has been granted proof of identity; the ways in which you benefit and participate along with your community, and the liberty that can be achieved through the decentralised and self-sovereign identity solution, IAMX.
At IAMX, we celebrate Identity Day and strive to uphold the pillars of identity, and to empower individuals the agency, control, and protection of their own identity.
About IAMX
IAMX is a token-based SSI and authentication system, enabling 1-Click Fulfillment transactions that are legally binding on the state/national level.
IAMX is the first-ever SSI solution to financially incentivize and reward the consumer each time they use their identity online.
The vision of IAMX is to empower everyone on Earth to realize their human right to have an identity, with a mission to protect the human right of every individual to hold, control, and own their personal identity.
IAMX allows the Holder to own their identity. Building upon the foundation of SSI, IAMX empowers the Holder to manage and control their identity. IAMX is working closely with members of the Sovrin Foundation to ensure the shared principles of SSI are maintained.
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