Clear DefinitionsIdentity Metadata
1 min read
Pronunciation
[aɪ-ˈdɛn-tɪ-ti ˈmɛt-ə-deɪ-tə]
Analogy
Think of identity metadata as the additional information on your driver's license beyond your name and photo—such as your address, height, eye color, and restrictions. These details provide context about your identity without necessarily revealing who you are, and you can choose which details to share in different situations.
Definition
Supplementary data associated with a digital identity that provides context, characteristics, or attributes about the identity without revealing the core identifying information. In blockchain systems, identity metadata enhances verifiable credentials by adding descriptive information while maintaining privacy and selective disclosure capabilities.
Key Points Intro
Identity metadata serves several crucial functions in blockchain-based identity systems.
Key Points
Privacy-preserving: Allows sharing of relevant attributes without exposing the entire identity.
Composable: Can be selectively disclosed based on specific verification requirements.
Verifiable: Can be cryptographically signed to ensure authenticity and prevent tampering.
Machine-readable: Structured in standardized formats to enable interoperability across different systems.
Example
When applying for age-restricted services online, a user can share only their "over 21" status from their identity metadata without revealing their exact birth date, name, or other personal information. The verifier can cryptographically confirm this claim is authentic without accessing the user's complete identity profile.
Technical Deep Dive
Identity metadata in blockchain systems typically follows standards like W3C Verifiable Credentials or DID Documents (DIDDocs). The metadata is often stored off-chain with only hash references on-chain to maintain scalability while ensuring data integrity. Advanced implementations use zero-knowledge proofs that allow a holder to prove they possess certain metadata attributes (e.g., credit score above 700) without revealing the exact value or other metadata.
Security Warning
Leaking too many identity metadata attributes across different services can lead to correlation attacks that de-anonymize users. Always implement minimum disclosure principles and consider using zero-knowledge proofs for sensitive attributes.
Caveat
The standardization of identity metadata formats is still evolving, potentially creating interoperability challenges between different identity systems. Additionally, metadata that seems non-identifying can sometimes be combined with other data sources to re-identify individuals, requiring careful privacy engineering.
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