[governance] Proposed theme: user centric digital identity

[Garth Graham]

ISSUE: User centric digital identity

a.  A concise formulation for the proposed theme

How can the IGF assist in finding the support that is needed both for  
new systems of digital identity that center identity around the user  
and for open public participation in their design and application?


b.  A brief description of why it is important

The issue of how participation in an  online world changes our  
personal need to control the expression of identity is as close as  
anything  to the heart of comprehending Internet Governance in the  
context of a transition to an Information Society.   As the online  
world moves towards “Web 2.0,” the concept of digital  identity is  
evolving and existing identity systems are faltering. New systems are  
emerging that center identity around the user.  This is an issue  
where civil society voices with experience from within the  
Information Society need to be visible taking a strong advocacy  
role.  They need to do this precisely because the issue clarifies the  
benefits of daily life online in a particular way.  We will  trust  
that the structures of an Information society are fair  only when it  
is clear in right, and in law and in code that we are the owners of  
all of the forms for the digital expression of ourselves.


c.  How it is in conformity with the Tunis Agenda  in terms of  
*substance*, particularly in reference to para. 34 to 54;

It can be argued that the issue of digital identity is interesting  
precisely because it is largely unanticipated by the Tunis agenda,  
except weakly as follows:

39. We seek to build confidence and security in the use of ICTs by  
strengthening the trust framework.

43. We reiterate our commitments to the positive uses of the Internet  
and other ICTs

56. The Internet remains a highly dynamic medium and therefore any  
framework and mechanisms designed to deal with Internet governance  
should be inclusive and responsive to the exponential growth and fast  
evolution of the Internet as a common platform for the development of  
multiple applications.

58.  We recognize that Internet governance includes more than  
Internet naming and addressing. It also includes other significant  
public policy issues such as, inter alia, …….  issues pertaining to  
the use of the Internet.

In that the Tunis agenda on IG assumes a framework  of actors based  
in government, private sector and civil society, it is not an agenda  
centered on the individual user.  Although the Tunis agenda makes  
reference to “cross cutting”  issues, it might be more useful to see  
that the issue of digital  identity, rather than cross cutting, is in  
fact  on a dimension of  Information Society unity and benefit that  
is orthogonal to the WSIS dimension of Internet problems.


d.  How it fits within the mandate of the IGF as detailed in para 72;

As per 72 (a,g,j,k), Digital Identity is an emerging critical  
resource issue in the development of the Internet that is of  
particular concern to everyday users.

a) Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet  
governance in order to
foster the ….. development of the Internet.

g) Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the  
relevant bodies and the
general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations.

j) Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical Internet resources.

k) Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and  
misuse of the Internet, of
particular concern to everyday users.


e.  Who the main actors in the field are, who could be encouraged to  
participate in the Forum and its thematic sessions.

There is a great deal of work currently being done on trust, privacy  
and identity management infrastructures, but largely without a WSIS/ 
IG cross-over or public participation. The following list is  
illustrative, not definitive:

SXIP Identity
SAML 2.0
Identity Metasystem “InfoCards”
Higgins Trust Framework Project
Planet Identity
Identity Commons
Digital ID World
The Yadis Project


f.  Why should this issue should be addressed in the first annual  
meeting of the Forum rather  than in subsequent ones.

Digital Identity is an issue that can serve to reorient the IGF  
towards thinking more long term about the Internet’s role in the  
future development of an Information Society, rather than dwelling  
completely on current issues understood negatively as problems.

Garth Graham
Telecommunities Canada


  
_______________________________________________
governance mailing list
governance at lists.cpsr.org
https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/governance