Introduction to Verified Credentials (VCs)

Decentralized blockchain network Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) has launched a groundbreaking solution to transform how personal data is shared in the web3 space. This new feature, Verified Credentials (VCs), ensures that users can maintain their privacy and control over their data.

According to a press release sent to CryptoPotato, VCs provide walletless tools and infrastructure for issuing and sharing human credentials in a privacy-preserving fashion.

The Problem of Bots and Fake Accounts

VCs are designed to tackle a significant issue plaguing social media today: the prevalence of bots and fake accounts. By offering cryptographically secure digital representations of data such as qualifications and achievements, VCs aim to prevent the manipulation of public discourse.

These digital credentials can be shared with online service providers that need to verify claims like age or identity. Unlike traditional methods, VCs ensure that personal information remains protected and under the user's control.

How VCs Work

The credentials are built on ICP's Internet Identity, a decentralized identity solution that operates entirely on the blockchain. This solution offers an authentication platform based on passkeys rather than passwords or seed phrases, providing enhanced security against phishing attacks.

With ICP's VCs, users can assign identity attributes to their Internet Identity, manage and reuse their credentials, and share specific information without linking to decentralized applications. For instance, users can verify their age without revealing their name or date of birth.

"The new Verifiable Credentials feature of Internet Identity addresses long-standing problems for online privacy-preserving authentication: all a user needs is a computing device that has a passkey (all recent ones do) and a browser," said Jan Camenisch, CTO of the DFINITY Foundation, the developer behind ICP.

Application in Proof of Unique Humanity (PoUH)

The first application of VCs within ICP is the Proof of Unique Humanity (PoUH). This feature has been implemented by the decentralized on-chain messaging app OpenChat.

PoUH ensures that each human user possesses only one account on a platform by linking credentials to biometric data such as facial, finger, or palm print recognition.

ICP believes that PoUH will address the issue of multiple user accounts and bots, which have been problematic on traditional and web3 social media platforms.

Conclusion

The introduction of Verified Credentials by ICP marks a significant step forward in online privacy and security.

By leveraging cutting-edge blockchain technology, ICP aims to offer a robust solution for maintaining personal data integrity while enabling seamless verification processes.

This innovation enhances user experience and fortifies the web3 ecosystem against malicious activities.