Summary

This chapter provided a detailed overview of the history of digital identity, with a focus on the transition to more secure, decentralized, and user-centric identification and verification systems. It examined the problems and opportunities given by social networks, mobile technologies, and biometric identity in developing the digital identity environment. The significance of institutional databases in traditional identity management was emphasized, as was the introduction of innovative methodologies such as decentralized identification systems and blockchain-based applications. Additionally, this chapter discussed the need for security, privacy, and user-centric methods in managing digital identities responsibly, as well as the influence of IoT and the need for standardization and interoperability. Overall, it underlined the necessity for a mix of simplicity, security, and privacy in developing a sustainable and inclusive digital identity ecosystem.

In the next chapter, we’ll dive into identity and access management and the differences between the two.