Last year, Microsoft collaborated with Accenture to build a digital identification network using blockchain technology. This partnership lies with the company"s aim to create universal access to identity. Today, the tech giant has announced that it will be teaming up with the ID2020 alliance in an attempt to further develop a secure digital identity system.
In addition to joining the ID2020 Alliance as a founding member, Microsoft has also donated $1 million to the non-profit public-private partnership. By using its resources, the tech giant plans to implement this digital identity system across governments and agencies in the future.
A digital identity system essentially uses identity information to represent people in computer systems, without the involvement of actual human operators. In simple terms, this enables people to access their records even if physical copies of these documents are lost. Such cases mostly apply to refugees who are often forced to leave their countries without necessary identity documents.
Therefore, the company believes that this work is important for the refugee populations. A lack of legal proof of identification leaves many of these people underprivileged, creating an "identity gap" that ultimately deprives them of some of the more important necessities of life.
To prevent these issues, Microsoft"s Identity team will provide people with vital information on ways to protect their personal data. Similarly, the digital identity system will be developed to allow people, products, apps and services to work together across organizations. In addition, the company will be establishing standards to ensure that it turns out to be an effective process.
Through a secure, open source identity system, the tech giant aims to close the identity gap, making it easier for the growing number of refugees to get the type of aid and support they would not otherwise be able to get..