IDENTITY

Personal life and economic activities rapidly transfer into the online world. As a result, also the subject "identity" gets a whole new meaning because it regulates the interaction of users, the economy and the Government.

Identification is a foundational problem of governance, and is of increasing concern to the private sector. Identification technologies act as the mediators of the relationship between an individual and institutions over time and across contexts, and how they are designed affects and is affected by the nature of that relationship.

Mathematically, identity seems to be a simple concept. However, in the real world, we interact in different social contexts and we need to control what we disclose about ourselves to whom and when to preserve our freedom. For technical identity systems, modelling this human requirement could still be a challenge.

Identity is what makes something what it is. Understanding one’s identity is specifically human. It implies an awareness of those features that are specific for us – our individual beliefs, desires, our body and our autobiography.

I was chair of the Lead Expert Group for the UK GO Science Foresight report on Future Identities. We identified a number of drivers for change in Identity over the next 10 years. The blurring of online and offline and public and private identities will have significant and far-reaching implications.

Since the adoption of the Data Protection Directive (1995), the ability of organisations to collect, store and process personal data has increased. Identity management systems are now largely used on the Internet, and they increase the need to protect the user’s identity. In this context, self-protection gains in importance beside EU and national regulations.

The global concepts, social norms and forms of privacy and identity are experiencing unprecedented change. What exactly is being recorded about us?  How is it tied to our real identities (and matched to our real names, addresses, government id #’s, and credit cards?)? What new personal info is being automatically shared about our lives?

Efficient ID schemes are key for governments to design and implement their policies. This does not only include classic identification processes in the analog world but also the management of digital identities. In addition, we have been observing a shift from traditional ID towards mobile identification. This rapid shift increasingly takes place in thriving economies with innovative governments and open-minded citizens. Our wish is to learn more about those citizens' expectations on future ID solutions.

According to John Locke's statement (dating back to 1689) in "Essay Concerning Human Understanding" Book II Chapter XXVII entitled "On Identity and Diversity" identity (the self) is defined as being the same person to the extent that we are conscious of our past and future thoughts and actions in the same way as we are conscious of our present thoughts and actions.

Persons not only exist as objects across time, they also have an understanding of their existence across time. Clearly, the notion of identity is linked to our self-understanding as individuals in various important ways. I am particularly interested in clarifying different meanings and uses of "identity" and their relations to each other.

From my perspective, the issue of identity is closely related with its protection in our digitalized world. The role of legal regulation in this context is very important and increases along with the development of technology and implementation of identity management concepts. Therefore, this dimension ought to be present in our debate.

There are two important topics have not been properly stressed in the agenda. The first one is the problem of design evolution for wearable electronic systems: most of the modern wearable electronic solutions need new approaches to the design because for the first time fashion, technology, physiology and psychology are all needed to design convincing wearable products.

For the first time in the history of mankind, our identities are being put in question. Can my identity be stolen? Can I have different identities? What about virtual identity? Are we moving into a brave new world? What are the threats, the risks, and the opportunities associated with safeguarding our individual identity?

Effective and efficient utilization of identify management capability should include proper safeguard of identity and privacy of individuals. Identity management in a fast shrinking globe presents additional challenges beyond technology and product requirements and global technical standards. These challenges include, but not limit to, different cultural, legal and political considerations.

Identity is the core. For people, identity outlines how we are viewed by others, for things it is key for communication and interaction in complex networks. Identity is developed through communication and interaction, but with the rise of the internet this process is complicated to manage. There is a need to really understand what it is, how it is developed and applied.