Identity 2.0: my digital identity is an asset, but who owns it?

Tom Llube - CEO of Garlik

Tom provided the opening pitch and covered a lot of ground from the perspective of the consumer. Whilst many question were asked by himself about what is identity and what do consumers believe it is… few tangible answers were given. Tom restricted his view to 3 years from today and avoided the star gazing and further limited his views to the segment he is interested in “the digital mainstream” 8.5 million of us. His 5 insights are:-

1. The language of digital identity means nothing to the average consumer, identity management provides no trigger. To mean something it must have an ‘East Enders’ Story line and should be understood by Pat Butcher!

2. Concern is high for personal information, but it is not clear what the proposition is. A shredder is great, but what is the digital equivalent for protection

3. Identity is highly emotional

4. Trust is required – but not sure for what or by whom

5. Motivation – is it unclear what the motivation would be

The take away for me is that focus is great, but lack of clarity on the proposition still cause commercial problems

Richard Baker, IDM Lead Consultant, Business Continuity, Security and
Governance Practice, BT

Richard provided the enterprise view and why identity protection is important, but started from the view that we will have an identity as a citizen, a consumer and employee. Managing these identities is a balance of convenience, cost and risk. Easy to use, low cost, very risky. Hard to use, high cost, low risk. Identity needs security, and security starts from ensuring that the person is who they say they are [verification], once approved you need authentication [proof you are still the same person], this all needs administration, control and management [cost]. However, governance is critical. Both in terms of trust but also in terms of legal duties.

Simon Wilison - OpenID consultant

Simon came from the technical viewpoint and provided an overview of OpenID and where is fits into the whole scheme, stressing that it is a small component, it will not solve all problems, e.g it is not a trust or verification system, but is useful and will be even more useful if further identity technolgies are layered on top. He raised a question about why Google and MSN want control….

Edgar Whitley - Reader in Information Systems (London School of Economics)

Edgar joined the panel, but first commented on governments wishes to provide the underlying frameworks of proven and trusted identity, and questioned which parts of my identity have value. Tom responded saying criminals say an ID is worth £800, as this is the tangible value they can steal.

Luke Razzell - Founder of the Identity Society

Luke probed "identity" from various angles. In his own words it’s a strange and slippery creature. His direction was somewhat more philosophical that the others on the panel. There is a great debate to be had about persona’s and who I am, but there is a core value is being assured that who I say I am is who I am, assuming you did not start out as a fraud.

All being said and done, identity is a wide ranging topic and cannot be solved is a few hours. The session did provide more questions than answers, but for most who attended will have expanded the types of questions. Who owns identity and especially my digital identity and what is the value is a competitive arena is very much open for more debate. Winners will win big, losers as always – lose. My final view was that whilst the iphone solves 3^rd world debt and promises to bring peace and harmony to all mankind, Identity needs Pat Butcher and an Eastender headline – therefore, one identity is solved we will know who shot Phil……

Tony Fish

Other views from the event good and not so good - many thanks for taking the time ....

http://piersj.vox.com/library/post/mashup-identity-20-event-24th-april.html

http://jimmyg.org/2007/04/25/identity-20-mashup/

http://www.weaverluke.com/blog/labels/mashup.html

http://blog.grahamsadd.com/2007/04/a_good_idea_has.html

http://www.cubicgarden.com/blojsom/blog/cubicgarden/socialsoftware/offline/2007/04/24/Mashup-Identity-2-0.html?page=comments

http://www.vecosys.com/2007/04/24/live-blogging-from-mashup-identity-20/

http://blogs.talis.com/nodalities/2007/04/mashup_covers_identity_20.php