Re: Digital Identity in the Migration & Refugee Context

Thanks, Karyl.

I'm not sure what the best practices are here (I'm new to this W3C group). But I reckon that it couldn't hurt to create a GitHub repo: https://github.com/jimflynn/stateless. The stated purpose is to create "a white paper that explores the potential benefits and dangers of self-sovereign identity technologies for refugees, migrants and otherwise stateless people." I think a Creative Commons Attribution license would work best since it lets anyone do anything with the resultant document, but requires attribution. There's nothing there yet; however, I hope to have an abstract and outline soon.

I'd love to see the work you've already done, Karyl. And if it's OK with you, I could include your documentation in the repo.

Additional authors are welcome!

Jim

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
On Wednesday, April 24, 2019 10:50 AM, Karyl Fowler <karyl@transmute.industries> wrote:

> I completely agree with you Jim.
>
> At the end of the article, my conclusion was that the problem of insufficient solutions for managing identity is distinct from the problem of broken or ineffective processes. As this piece demonstrates, implementing an automated/technical solution on top of broken or corrupt processes can do more harm than good, but this concept isn't specific to the refugee context in my experience.
>
> Most corporate early adopters of DIDs we have worked with are trying to address process inefficiencies in their businesses that cause them to assume undue liability that eats into their margins or slows things down unbearably (like in the refugee case); they are already investing in optimizing their operations, so part of implementing a more portable, privacy-first identity solution includes helping clients evolve their business processes in tandem. We want to set them up for success, and the right process is that foundation.
>
> We have done some related work we'd be happy to share for a paper exploration (related to US asylum seekers and persons experiencing homelessness).
> --
>
> KARYL FOWLERChief Executive Officerwww.transmute.industries
>
> https://www.transmute.industries/
>
> ᐧ
>
> On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 3:42 AM Jim Flynn <jim@jamespflynn.com> wrote:
>
>> From page 25:
>>
>>> "There are clear deficiencies in a system that depends on legally recognized ID certificates in the form of paper documents that are easily stolen, lost, or destroyed and also difficult to re-place once inside the EU. It is here where the promises of technology, through digitally-encrypted, decentralized ledgers, for example, may seem like a tempting solution. Yet any technological intervention in sociotechnical systems already rife with problems can amplify existing biases."
>>
>> I was disappointed that the paper didn't elaborate with examples. But, of course, it's fair to say that technology could turn a bad situation worse by making negative activities faster, cheaper and more efficient. On the other hand, I didn't come to the conclusion that SSI specifically would make the situation worse. Much of the problem stems from the asymmetry of power between the government and the refugees. Example: "If you want food, you must let us fingerprint you." Given the situation in Italy, it's unlikely that the government there is going to make informed consent by refugees its top priority. But that may not always be the case everywhere.
>>
>> There may be situations where SSI could help. For example, even if a refugee doesn't want to give his/her fingerprints to a government, it may be possible for a cultural mediator to convince the refugee to create an SSI relationship with an NGO, which would enable the refugee to benefit from the NGO's services.
>>
>> Perhaps a useful exercise would be to write a paper to explore the potential benefits and dangers that SSI poses to refugee populations. Does anyone want to work with me on that?
>>
>> Jim Flynn
>>
>> [image](https://twitter.com/jamespflynn)
>> [image](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespeterf/)
>> [image](https://jamespflynn.com/)
>>
>> ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
>> On Saturday, April 20, 2019 5:11 PM, Kim Hamilton Duffy <kim@learningmachine.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Excellent questions raised in this study. +1 to further discussion.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 9:19 PM Adrian Gropper <agropper@healthurl.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Digital Identity in the Migration & Refugee Context is a major study that questions the use of technology. I skimmed it and saw no mention of SSI but it makes me wonder how many of the problems raised in the study are we actually solving. Are we at risk of making things worse?
>>>>
>>>> https://datasociety.net/output/digital-identity-in-the-migration-refugee-context/
>>>>
>>>> I feel unprepared to comment on our refugee use-case for SSI but I hope some of our group will review or run a journal club at IIW about this.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Adrian