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This information can include biometric data, personal information, identity features or account login details. For example, a fingerprint registered in a mobile phone to unlock the screen or log into an account on sites is considered a part of a person’s digital identity.
A digital identity represents a real-world entity in the digital space, and websites, applications, and services use it to identify a user or organization. The data used to identify you in the digital world includes:
The use of identity information is not new and in the past, people’s identity was expressed by using tattoos or symbolic jewelry to show social status and connection with certain groups. Since thousands of years before BC, the use of fingerprints has been common for the security of transactions, and even in ancient Rome, linking blood fingerprints to a crime has been reported as a tool for solving criminal cases.
With the progress of civilization, the meaning of identity has evolved and new forms of it have appeared. Identity information protection features have also advanced and in the 1960s, scientists such as Fernando Corbato introduced digital identity. They offered the possibility of creating an account with a username and password, and this method, although it had low security, was a step towards protecting identity in the digital space.
With the birth of the Internet and widespread access to information, privacy in the digital space became more important and the concept of digital identity became more complex. Multi-factor authentication came into being and password alone was no longer enough. The Internet and technologies similar to face scanning or fingerprints were also introduced to verify identity in the digital world.
Most of the actions we do in the internet space or using digital devices are done through our digital identity. For example, when we use a mobile banking app to transfer money to another account, we are interacting with our digital identity. In the following, we will look at some examples of the applications of this type of identity:
In online stores, we need to confirm the identity of customers to place orders and provide information for product delivery. The bank information provided for payment is also part of the digital identity.
In online games, people’s identity information is used to make in-app purchases and transactions.
Companies keep the information and details of their employees in digital systems, and employees have access to services and information with a digital identity.
In the field of cryptocurrencies, the importance of digital identity is very high for the security of transactions and the custody of digital assets. Also, this type of identity is effective in various fields, including blockchain technology and cryptocurrency affairs. For example, people can have a decentralized identity and hold their assets in a digital wallet.
Despite the advantages, there are still risks such as hacker attacks and misuse of identity information. Therefore, it is necessary to use security tools and methods in the digital world so that people can operate more confidently.
