Selective Disclosure

Definition

Selective disclosure refers to the practice of revealing certain pieces of information while withholding others, often in a way that controls what is shared with specific parties. In the context of self-sovereign identity and blockchain, this concept empowers individuals to manage their personal data by sharing only the necessary information required for a transaction or verification, thus enhancing privacy and reducing risks associated with data exposure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Selective disclosure enhances user privacy by allowing individuals to share only specific attributes from their identity without revealing the full set of personal data.
2. This practice is particularly important in digital transactions where revealing unnecessary information could lead to potential misuse or identity theft.
3. Selective disclosure can be facilitated through advanced cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs, which validate information without exposing it.
4. In self-sovereign identity systems, users have complete control over which pieces of their data are shared and with whom, thereby improving data security.
5. The ability to engage in selective disclosure helps build trust between parties, as users can provide proof of specific claims while maintaining their overall privacy.

Review Questions

• How does selective disclosure support the principles of self-sovereign identity?
  • Selective disclosure supports self-sovereign identity by allowing individuals to maintain control over their personal data. Users can choose which specific pieces of information they share during interactions or transactions, ensuring that they reveal only what's necessary. This level of control not only enhances individual privacy but also reduces the risk of identity theft and misuse of personal information.
• Discuss how cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs enable selective disclosure in blockchain applications.
  • Cryptographic techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs play a crucial role in enabling selective disclosure within blockchain applications. These methods allow one party to prove possession of certain information without revealing the actual data itself. For instance, an individual can prove they are over a certain age without disclosing their exact birthdate. This fosters trust while ensuring sensitive information remains confidential.
• Evaluate the implications of selective disclosure on user privacy and trust in digital interactions.
  • Selective disclosure has significant implications for user privacy and trust in digital interactions. By empowering individuals to share only essential information, it minimizes the amount of personal data exposed during transactions. This increased privacy leads to greater user confidence when interacting online. As users feel more secure in sharing their information selectively, it can promote wider adoption of self-sovereign identity systems and ultimately transform how digital identity is managed.

Related terms

Self-Sovereign Identity: A digital identity model that allows individuals to own, control, and manage their personal information without relying on a central authority.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs:

Cryptographic methods that enable one party to prove to another that they know a value without revealing the value itself.

Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs):

A new type of identifier that enables verifiable, self-sovereign digital identities, allowing users to interact securely without depending on centralized registries.