Digital identity is becoming increasingly important in our digital world. We use it to access government services, bank accounts, social media accounts, and more. However, there are many different digital identity systems in use, and they often do not interoperate with each other. This can make it difficult for people to use their digital identities across different platforms and services.

The importance of interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of different systems to work together seamlessly. In the context of digital identity, interoperability means that people should be able to use their digital identity from one system to access another system, without having to create a new digital identity for each system.

Interoperability is important for a number of reasons. First, it makes it easier for people to use their digital identities. Second, it can help to reduce fraud and identity theft. Third, it can promote competition and innovation in the digital identity market.

New digital identity standards and protocols

A number of new digital identity standards and protocols are being developed to improve interoperability. Some of the most important include:

• Decentralized identity (DID): DID is a new approach to digital identity that is based on blockchain technology. DIDs give people control over their own digital identities and allow them to share their identities with others without having to go through a trusted intermediary.
• Self-sovereign identity (SSI): SSI is a set of principles and standards for building decentralized identity systems. SSI systems give people control over their own digital identities and allow them to share their identities with others without having to go through a trusted intermediary.
• OpenID Connect (OIDC): OIDC is a simple identity layer on top of the OAuth 2.0 protocol. It allows users to authenticate with websites and applications using their existing identities from other websites and applications.
• Web Authentication (WebAuthn): WebAuthn is a W3C standard that allows users to authenticate with websites and applications using their device’s built-in security features, such as fingerprint scanners and facial recognition.

The future of digital identity

The development of new digital identity standards and protocols is a positive step towards improving the interoperability of different systems. However, it is important to note that these standards and protocols are still under development. It will likely take several years before they are widely adopted.

In the meantime, there are a number of things that organizations can do to improve the interoperability of their digital identity systems. For example, organizations can:

• Adopt open standards and protocols, such as OIDC and WebAuthn.
• Support multiple identity providers.
• Make it easy for users to transfer their digital identities to other systems.

By taking these steps, organizations can help to make the digital identity ecosystem more user-friendly and secure.