:: SecureId ::
Security of Identity
Through Knowledge
Imagine that you are in control of your digital
identity.
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Underlying Questions
• What is context in a digital realm?
Why does it matter?
• Why is multi-faceted digital identity
important?
• Who should control personal data?
Why? How?
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
What is context in a digital
realm? (and why does it matter?)
• Context provides cues necessary for
appropriate social interactions
– Individuals present different facets
dependent on context
• Context is derived from location,
people and types of interactions
– Digital realm: location is irrelevant or
misleading; often replaced by personas
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Why is multi-faceted digital
identity important?
• Necessary to present oneself
properly (social norms or mores)
• Useful for developing contextual
reputations
• Crucial for marginalized individuals
• Directly related to trust/deception
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Who should control personal
data? Why?
• Individual vs. business vs. government
– Privacy vs. economic gain / ease of use
• Individual control of identity essential for
improved online social interactions
– Must be able to properly present oneself
– Must understand how one is being perceived
– Should be able to control representation, not just
data
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
An Approach :: SecureId
• Construct & manage digital facets
– Associate particular identity information
with them
– Knowledge-based security to control who
may access them
• Provide personal visual landscape
– Conveys individual digital portrait
– Gives individuals a sense of what they are
sharing
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Profile Construction
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Facet Creation
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
Example worlds
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002
More Information
http://smg.media.mit.edu/projects/SecureId
danah@media.mit.edu
danah boyd, Nelson Lai . Sociable Media, MIT Media Lab . 20 March 2002