How blockchain can help you prove your humanity in cyberspace

Artificial intelligence is increasingly infiltrating our daily lives, taking the form of advanced language models such as ChatGPT, facial recognition features on our smartphones, chatbots on websites, and many more applications. 

However, beyond these practical uses, AI is also being misused in damaging ways, including for document forgery and fraud. This era of advanced AI-enabled replication makes traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) methods less effective, with the latter increasingly vulnerable to attack by malicious actors using AI tools to create false identities and mimic human behaviour.

Faced with these challenges, the solution could lie in decentralised identity. By cutting out intermediaries and giving users complete control over their identity, decentralisation offers enhanced protection against intrusions and forgeries. This approach also reverses the data sharing process, giving users greater control over who can access their personal information, with the ability to revoke this access at any time.

The portability of this identity is another major advantage of the decentralised approach. Universal standards would allow users to manage their digital identifiers securely across different organisations, improving the efficiency and security of KYC methods. These standardised methods also ensure better interoperability between different blockchain networks, making it easier to validate digital identity.

‍There are many projects: Worldcoin, Gitcoin, Anima...

Initiatives such as the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) are already working on developing these standards. In addition, innovative blockchain projects are contributing to the expansion of this ecosystem.

The Worldcoin project, for example, proposes World ID, an open, permissionless identity protocol using zero-disclosure proof of knowledge to allow users to verify their "humanity" online anonymously. Users are asked to scan their iris. The Anima project offers a facial scan. Gitcoin, meanwhile, has developed the Gitcoin Passport, a decentralised identifier that allows its holders to collect "stamps" from web2 and web3 authenticators, making it easier to verify their identity across different platforms without sharing private information.

Proof of Humanity uses trust networks, reverse Turing tests and conflict resolution mechanisms to compile a verified list of humans, reinforcing the reliability of online interactions. Finally, Civic Pass offers identity management options on the blockchain and between different chains, reinforcing trust in the Web3 ecosystem and enabling users to navigate the decentralised web with ease.

‍