You Can’t Spell Identity Without ‘I’

Identity is far more than just official documents or digital records—it is the foundational sense of self, recognized across cultures and rooted in the ineffable "I" of consciousness. Today, however, our understanding and management of identity have strayed dramatically from this personal center, leading to confusion and even risk for individuals in both the physical and digital worlds.

What Is Identity?

Identity, at its core, is a uniquely human concept tied to self-awareness and the innate sense of "I." Philosophers like René Descartes captured this with the dictum, "Cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am")—suggesting that our sense of self arises from conscious thought. Identity is not just how we present ourselves; it is the anchor of our autonomy, dignity, and capacity to act in the world.

How Society Perceives Identity Today

Modern society, governments, and corporations frequently conflate identity with credentials: driver’s licenses, social security numbers, passports, login usernames. This bureaucratic view treats identity not as an intrinsic human right but as something that can be granted, revoked, or lost due to external factors. As Christopher Allen points out, this confusion leads to a precarious situation—if credentials are taken away or a border is crossed, does that mean a person loses their identity? Of course not; yet the systems we have built imply otherwise.

In the digital world, matters are even more fragmented. Each platform, website, and service often creates its own isolated version of "you"—multiple, disconnected digital identities, all centrally controlled by providers rather than the individual. It’s easy to lose sight of the coherent "I" amidst the balkanized array of logins and permissions.

Why This Is Deeply Problematic

Reducing identity to credentials undermines human agency and freedom. It creates vulnerability, where powers outside of the individual can control, monitor, or erase identity-related information. Worse yet, it strips away the sense of autonomy—turning people into mere data entries, subject to bureaucratic or commercial whims.

This confusion is not just a technical problem but a moral one. When identity is not under the control of the individual, the risks include financial exclusion, human rights abuses, social inequality, and the erosion of trust. Identity must be something verifiable and portable but also fundamentally under the individual's control, not locked away by institutions.

Rethinking Identity for the Digital Age

Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a model where individuals own and control their digital identities, deciding when, how, and with whom their information is shared. Its principles include independent existence, control, access, transparency, persistence, portability, interoperability, consent, minimal disclosure, and protection.

SSI recaptures the original idea of identity: it is personal, portable, and controlled by the person themselves. This model promises dignity and empowerment, ensuring that people can truly say, "I am," both offline and online.

Final Reflection

Christopher Allen’s warning is clear: until individuals regain control over their identities, both physical and digital, the confusion and vulnerability will persist. The path forward is not just technical but philosophical—recognizing that identity is inseparable from the very sense of being human, and demanding that its stewardship return to each of us.

For deeper insight, see Christopher Allen’s original article: "The Path to Self-Sovereign Identity".