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Understanding the European Self Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF)
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Understanding the European Self Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF)

Introduction

In this section, the speakers introduce themselves and explain what the European Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) Framework is about.

Introducing SSI Meetup

  • The SSI Meetup aims to empower global SSI communities.
  • It is open to everyone, including companies, communities, governments, or any individual interested in SSI.
  • All content created during the meetup is shared under a Creative Commons by Share Alike license.

About the Presentation

  • The presentation will be available in video and Google Slides format for reuse.
  • Previous webinars are also available for viewing.
  • Questions can be asked during the presentation or at the end.

Introducing the Speakers

  • Daniel deSario works as a blockchain program manager in the Flemish government.
  • Carlos Pastor works for BME and is part of FC as a convener for the European SSI framework.

Empowering Global SSI Communities

This section explains what SSI Meetup aims to achieve and how it empowers global SSI communities.

What is SSI Meetup?

  • The aim of SSI Meetup is to empower global SSI communities.
  • It is open to everyone who wants to learn more about self-sovereign identity frameworks.
  • All content created during meetups is shared under a Creative Commons by Share Alike license.

Building a New Digital Identity Infrastructure for Europe

This section discusses why there's a need for building a new digital identity infrastructure in Europe.

Why Build a New Digital Identity Infrastructure?

  • David Birch, an identity specialist, believes that we cannot build services for the post-industrial age using an identity infrastructure from the industrial age.
  • There's a need for building a new digital identity infrastructure for Europe.
  • The European Union's main aim is to promote peace, values, and well-being of its peoples in the area of freedom and security and justice without internal frontiers.

Introduction and Context

This section provides an introduction to the European Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) Framework.

What is the European SSI Framework?

  • The European SSI Framework aims to build a new digital identity infrastructure for Europe.
  • It is part of the European Blockchain Service Infrastructure.
  • The project aims to contribute to building a new digital identity framework for Europe.

Technical Details

This section discusses technical details about the European SSI Framework.

SF Function Overview

  • Carlos Pastor presents an overview of the SF function.
  • More technical details are discussed in this section.

Conclusion

This section concludes the presentation by sharing some roadmaps and current projects approach.

Roadmap and Current Projects Approach

  • A roadmap for future projects is shared.
  • Current projects approach is discussed.

The Challenge of Interoperability in E-Government

In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges of interoperability in e-government and how it can be solved by building architectures or interoperability layers.

Building Interoperability Layers

  • The speaker explains that one way to solve the problem of interoperability is by building architectures or interoperability layers.
  • These systems tend to be complex and cumbersome, making it difficult for them to work at scale.
  • When public and private sources are linked together, it becomes difficult to use them effectively. This results in a spaghetti-like system that is challenging to implement on a large scale.

Consent and Legal Framework

  • One challenge with linking authentic sources is arranging user consent. Public administrations may have legal power to link information, but there is no legal framework for cross-border information interchange between organizations.
  • As a result, public administrations have difficulty linking multiple sources and obtaining user or enterprise consent stored independently.

Identity Solutions

  • The speaker notes that globally, there is an approach to identity that Europe does not want to adopt due to its highly commercial exploitation of certain data.
  • Additionally, state-centric identity solutions where all data is gathered and centralized without user consent or control are also threatening approaches for citizens' privacy.
  • Based on these motivations, member states of the European Union needed a self-identity framework supported by Europe that could support their ideals and motivations.

Challenges with Data Interchange

  • Member states need an SSI solution because they face problems with data interchange. A self-sovereign identity framework can help solve these problems.

Other Things That Are Not Based on SSI

The speaker discusses the scope of the project and what is not included in it.

Scope of the Project

  • The project aims to stimulate the transformation of public services using verifiable credentials.
  • Public services are encouraged to produce and consume verifiable credentials.
  • The project wants to preserve European and democratic values while empowering users and enterprises to control their own data.
  • The objective is to give power to users, enterprises, and society as a whole by standardizing on a global level.

Out of Scope

  • The interpretation of data and semantics is not part of the project's scope.
  • Business logic related to trust issues with diplomas or other credentials is also out of scope.
  • Building and maintaining an SSI wallet for all European citizens is not part of the project's scope.
  • There may be a dark side to SSI that could be harmful, but this is not currently in scope.

Linking SSI with Public Services

The speaker talks about how SSI can be linked with public services.

Verifiable Credentials for Public Services

  • Verifiable credentials can be used as icons for public services.
  • Public services should produce verifiable credentials that they can consume themselves.
  • They should take advantage of the potential benefits offered by SSI technology.

Identity Layer for European Public Services

  • An identity layer needs to be built for European public services using multiple blockchain layers.
  • A guaranteed layer provided by SFL will provide higher-level meta support.
  • This evolution towards social identity must preserve European values while stimulating development on a global level.

Limitations of the Project

The speaker discusses limitations regarding what the project does not cover.

Semantic Standardization

  • The project does not cover every possible use case for SSI semantically standardized research.
  • Investigating business logic and semantics would broaden the scope of the project enormously.
  • Other institutions like BSI should do semantic work to build on top of the SSI framework.

Consent Issues

  • Trust issues related to consent are difficult to address.
  • Business logic related to trust is out of scope for this project.

Academic Research and Implementation

  • Economic, legal, social, and governance research is needed before large-scale implementation can occur.
  • SF will not solve every academic research issue related to SSI.
  • There may be a dark side to SSI that could be harmful, but this is not currently in scope.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that implementing new models requires proper understanding and caution.

Implementing New Models

  • Implementing new models requires proper understanding and caution.
  • The speaker uses an image of something shiny and new as an analogy for how we must approach new models with care.

Introduction to the Project

In this section, the speaker introduces a project that aims to transform public and private interactions or services using Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI).

Project Timeline

  • The project will take a few years to fully implement.
  • Phase one involves defining ESF components for the app based on applicable level use cases and first implementation.
  • An MVP is being built in phase one that can be used, but additional research and development will be needed.
  • Large-scale implementations of real public services are expected by 2132.

User Control

  • Instead of linking every possible authentic source and database with each other, let the user decide what kind of interaction and data is shared.
  • The project aims to establish an open connection so that national and international projects can interconnect with them.

Collaboration

  • The project is not isolated from other SSI projects happening internationally or nationally.
  • Partnerships are being established to work on use cases for the ESF building block.

Credential Revocation

This section discusses how credential revocation works in SSI.

Misinformation Prevention

  • Only the user knows if information is miserable, preventing others from stealing it.
  • Service providers store information between perception, but they do not know if it's stolen or not.
  • Using different techniques, misinformation can be private even if it's destroyed in a public place.

Project Approach

  • The project is being approached in phases, with an MVP being built in phase one.
  • Additional research and development will be needed for the project to be fully implemented.
  • The project aims to let users control what kind of interaction and data is shared.
  • Partnerships are being established to work on use cases for the ESF building block.

Collaboration

  • The project is not isolated from other SSI projects happening internationally or nationally.
  • Partnerships are being established to work on use cases for the ESF building block.

Overview of Questions

In this section, Alexander asks several questions related to the storage of credentials on mobile phones and servers, the use of W3 standards for DIDs and verified credentials, and what happens if an institution that issued a diploma declines to participate or ceases to exist.

Storage of Credentials

  • Credentials can be stored on a mobile phone or server.
  • Information is distributed in small pieces so that it can only be recovered by authorized parties.
  • Providers do not have access to real information.

Use of W3 Standards

  • The project will likely use W3 standards for DIDs and verified credentials.
  • Extra specifications may need to be added for presentation requests.

Issuer Verification

  • If an institution declines to participate or ceases to exist, the issuer may be someone else who can verify the diploma.
  • Universities mainly issue diplomas, but there needs to be a big list of entities willing to participate in order for the system to work efficiently.
  • Social pressure from users who want efficiency gains may encourage universities to participate.

Future Approaches

  • In the future, institutions may refuse paper-based diplomas because they are more costly and lose control over them.

Auditing and Privacy in SSI

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of auditing and privacy in self-sovereign identity (SSI) systems.

Auditing in SSI

  • Auditing is important to ensure that SSI systems are secure and trustworthy.
  • Sharing certifications without connection from a current employer with a possible future employer can be problematic. A neutral registry could be used instead of contacting the current employer.
  • It is important to protect citizens' information when using mobile devices for SSI. Research is needed to determine how best to protect users.

Privacy Concerns in SSI

  • Empowering users with control over their identity can also lead to misuse of personal information.
  • Users should not give medical or socioeconomic information to just anyone, as it could be misused.
  • There are concerns about states having access to certain vital information while still protecting citizens' privacy.

Different Models of Identity Systems

In this section, the speaker discusses different models of identity systems and how they relate to self-sovereign identity (SSI).

American vs Chinese Model

  • The American model is dominant but may be imperialistic in its approach.
  • The Chinese model has powerful companies like WeChat and Alibaba but may lead to social control by the government or institutions.

Europe's Opportunity

  • Europe has an opportunity to become an island of privacy on the planet by implementing privacy-preserving technologies like Bitcoin and other technologies while providing transparency of institutions.
  • Europe can use SSI to empower citizens and guarantee privacy while avoiding a hyper-commercial or state-centric approach.

Opportunities and Challenges in Data Control

In this section, the speakers discuss the challenges of interacting with different continents and the need to find a balance between easy-to-use solutions and privacy concerns.

Balancing Easy-to-Use Solutions with Privacy Concerns

  • The speakers discuss the challenges of interacting with different continents.
  • They express their personal opinions on not wanting commercial companies or states to have complete control over their personal data.
  • The speakers suggest finding a middle ground where users have real control over their information while still having easy-to-use solutions.
  • They emphasize the need to learn from social networks that provide easy-to-use solutions but also prioritize privacy.

Resources for Blockchain Ecosystem

In this section, the speakers discuss the resources available for executing complex setups in blockchain ecosystems.

Real Resources for FC or UP and SSI Framework

  • The speakers mention that they are at the start of this project, with 1000 Mondays available specifically for SF, other use cases, and Hep C.
  • They acknowledge that marketing visibility and public relations can be challenging in executing complex setups in blockchain ecosystems.
  • The speakers state that more resources will be available as part of new requirements and policies on single call dick talk gateway market.
  • They emphasize that it will take more researchers to build an MVP but savings could be significant.

Cost Savings Potential of Blockchain Ecosystem

In this section, the speakers discuss how blockchain ecosystems can save costs by providing users control over their data.

Cost Savings Potential of Blockchain Ecosystem

  • The speakers mention that the first use case will cost money, but savings could be enormous by providing users control over their data.
  • They emphasize that blockchain ecosystems can save costs in processes such as diploma centralization and cross-border transactions.
  • The speakers acknowledge that resources are limited at this moment, but external experts can help with the project.
  • They mention that they are also looking into the Canadian government and local solutions.
Video description

https://ssimeetup.org/understanding-european-self-sovereign-identity-framework-essif-daniel-du-seuil-carlos-pastor-webinar-32/ Daniël Du Seuil, Programm manager and blockchain architect with the Flemish public service, and Carlos Pastor, from BME in Spain, give an overview of the vision, objectives, and approach of the European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF). The European Union’s main aim is, as stated in article 3 of the Treaty of Lisbon (2007, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2012/oj), to promote peace, its value and the well-being of its people in an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers, in which the free movement of persons is ensured in conjunction with appropriate measures with respect to external border controls, asylum, immigration, and the prevention and combating of crime. In the current times, the mentioned values and goals of the EU need not only to be pursued in the analog world but also in the emerging and expanding digital world. In a world which is overall becoming more insecure, competitive, and authoritarian, Europe needs to project its core values in the digital world – for its own citizens and beyond. Just as the GDPR has a global signaling and role model function, we need a new model of digital identity based on European values to work across the globe. This model will not only protect and empower the citizens and organizations but also allow more efficient interactions and new business models. The new emerging technologies and concepts like blockchain and self-sovereign identity hold the promise to construct a new model of digital identity and the EU member states want to take the lead in this disruptive approach. In 2018, 27 EU Member States, Norway, and Lichtenstein signed a deceleration creating the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP). The EBP assists the European Commission in establishing a European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). In the short term (2019-2020), the main objective is to start the operation of EU-wide Blockchain-based services and to promote the use of the EBSI in “virtually” every domain of the public sector able to benefit from Blockchain technology. The EBSI has a particular focus on cross-border public services. In 2018, the EBP identified a set of Use-Cases to be implemented on the EBSI one of these important use cases is the European Self Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF). The EBSI will implement a generic Self-Sovereign Identity capability that is integrated and interoperable with existing building blocks and legal frameworks like eIDAS and GDPR. The ESSIF will be focussing in the first stage and implementation on the public services/member states and the EBSI use cases that are now being developed (diploma and notarization). But a much larger scope and ambitions lie in the near future. Public-private interactions could also benefit from this concept and the ESSIF project wants to accelerate and stimulate an emerging market on SSI solutions/concepts with the trust and help on standardization/interoperability Europe can provide in the new digital world. The goal and focus of this project are to develop a first version or Minimum Valuable Product (MVP) of the ESSIF within the new European Blockchain Service Infrastructure by the end of 2019/begin 2020.

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