S1E9: Blockchain and Self Sovereign Identity with Arwen Smit from Outlier Ventures

As the entire world is looking to Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) as a potential solution to COVID-19, Arwen Smit gives us some home truths about the complexity of identity management, what is required to develop SSI networks, and potential business models for private sector enterprises. Arwen is hugely knowledgeable and a pleasure to listen to - essential for anyone who wants to learn more about the digital identity space.
In this episode we cover:
- An overarching framework for identity and trust (human trust, cryptographic trust)
- The major problems that SSI aims to address (and some that is should not)
- How SSI could be applied to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Critical challenges to consider (governance, ethics, fraud, commercial models)
- The relevance of Blockchain as an enabler for SSI
- Case studies including Estonia, MOBI, Sovrin, the UN and more
- Arwen view on 'If data is the new oil, is SSI the electric motor?' and,
- Her most valuable, most impactful, and favourite SSI use cases for the future
Links to topics discussed:
- Arwen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arwensmit
- Arwen's Website: https://arwensmit.com
- Identity Reboot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Identity-Reboot-Reimagining-Privacy-Century/dp/1916314414